Festy Fuel Problem--Help, I'm just a girl

[fishgoddess]

I'm from Eastern Washington (the state). I have a 1993 Festiva L with 91,000 miles, 2 doors, manual, and absolutely no accessories.

I can't get the thing to run. I know it is a fuel problem because if I spray starter fluid (or gas, whew, stand back) it runs, rough, but it runs. I replaced the fuel pump and it ran great for about 2 weeks, then Poof. No go. I bench tested the new pump, it's fine. I have power from the pump to the little plug thing in back (I have no idea what it's called) and I have power from the plug thing back up to the engine (don't know what that's called either). The car turns over just fine. But it won't run. I replaced the distributor thinking it was the crankshaft position sensor. When I replaced it it did have oil all over it. It started and ran for about 45 seconds. While I was celebrating my victory and dancing around the yard, it died. Same old thing. Starter fluid gets it to run, but that's all. I can't find a fuel pump relay, or a fuel pump fuse. HELP, HELP, HELP. I have a Haynes manual, and have done everything they suggest. (I also know where to get more manuals, if anyone needs them).

I have read everything I can find on the internet. I have been working on this problem since...God, I have no idea...sometime in the spring, cuz it was cold...then it got hot, and now it's cold again, yeah spring.

I hate to have to take it in to a shop, one because I'll have to have it towed, and two because I don't like giving them my money. I'll have to start streetwalking to pay the mechanic's bill.

I'm going to go home and pull the distributor out and clean up any oil like kzbill describes. Other than that, I'm stumped. ANY help will be much appreciated.

[DuritzCrows17]

wow I feel for you. I don't have a remedy but I wish you luck, I had similar problems with another car that I sold when I ran out of ideas.

[oxbrain]

You didn't mention replacing the fuel filter. Simple, but you never know. Also, is the ecu throwing any codes?

The festiva uses the CAS for the tach signal, if that were bad it shouldn't fire with starting fluid.

I'd check the VAF. The ecu will cut fuel if that goes bad.

[fishgoddess]

pardon my ignorance, what is VAF & CAS--and where would I find them...remember, I'm a girl. I still tell myself, lefty loosey, righty tighty.

[fishgoddess]

Oh yeah, the fuel filter was the first thing I replaced.

[oxbrain]

I do that too.

VAF is the air flow meter, it's the box thing on top of the air filter box.

CAS is the cam angle sensor. Most cars will have a seperate tach sensor, the festiva just multiplies the cam signal by 2 to get the tach. Since it only has the one sensor, it wouldn't fire the spark plugs if the CAS were bad.

[gdawgs]

In my 15 years of Festiva ownership, I have never had a fuel related problem, so I'm probably not much help, but I think you are on the right track. If you are positive that you have power to the pump, then I would go through the fuel pressure check procedure in the manual. Could be a bad pressure regulator, pump(even though it's fairly new), or who knows how many other things.

Sounds like you are doing a pretty good job, "for a girl". Don't put yourself down.

[b3 madness]

fishgoddess, there are several active members local in the Spokane area that may be able to swing by and take a look and give you some advice. Trucktiva and user name Tim are just a few. You may give them a PM to see if they can help.

[wrestler3025]

It sounds like the fuel injectors to me. This is exactly what both of mine did before I sent mine out to have them ultrasonically cleaned. The guy I bought my B3 festiva from couldn't get it running and the only way that he could get it to run was the starting fluid. Your fuel pump is okay, so I would put my money on the injectors being partially closed or some of them closed all the way. You should remove your fuel injectors and send them out to http://www.witchhunter.com/ to be serviced. They are in washington too. I got REALLY quick service from them, and I am on the other side of the country. Let us know how it turns out.

Joe

[miami man]

or the vaf plug end if it is loose

[miami man]

who is helping you? you mention you will be pulling the distributer and bench tested the fuel pump all by yourself maybe you need some help there.

[WmWatt]

Can you write more about the oily old distrubutor?
Where exaclty was the oil?
If it's a fuel problem, people have reported problems with clogged fuel screens in the fuel tank intake.

[fishgoddess]

FUEL SCREEN/PUMP=I have cleaned the fuel screen and replaced the pump (and bench tested it).

INJECTORS==It isn't the injectors because I detached the fuel line to the engine to see if it would spurt out when I turned it over.--bone dry. But I'll keep the info from wrestler because I think my Beemer needs the injectors cleaned.

WMWATT= You know when you removed the distributor and put a new one in there are those notches on the part that slides into the engine that you have to aling so you know you are on the 1st cylindar...that is where the oil is. You can't see this part until you unscrew the two bolts and slide the distrubutor out...oil all over. It never occurred to me that it shouldn't be there.

OXBRAIN= I have the airfilter box all taken apart so I could see the timing marks. Can you explain to me how the VAF works???

MIAMIMAN=Mostly my dog sits on the dash and watches me. I can usually get my son to hand me tools if I threaten him with bodily harm.

My Haynes book talks about a fuel pump fuse??? Anyone seen one? How about the fuel pump relay??? That's supposed to be up under the dash. Is it the one up against the firewall?

[kzbill]

sounds like you are going through the panic of diagnosis!
The VAF, Vane airflow meter, needs to be attached, properly plugged in, and the Air Intake Hoses need to be attached and properly sealed for the car to run properly.
There is a small reed switch inside the VAF that turns the fuel pump on when the car cranks and draws air across the Vane, opening the vane and triggering the reed switch.
Up near the Code reading connector by the master cylinder there is a similar connector that will run the pump if jumpered to ground. I think it is described in the haynes manual.
Try jumpering that and if it pumps then you know the fuel pump and pump realy are OK.
Then erase that one from your list.

[Tim]

Your Festiva wouldn't happen to be a really clean blue one that was for sale last spring, would it? I remember looking at one with this exact same problem and was going to buy it but it didn't work out.