Keeps dying on cold start

[mike_and_friends]

I'm getting to my wits end on this one! 92 Festy 5 speed manual, bought it running but poorly. I've had it for about a year and in that time I've replaced the fuel pump, cleaned out the gas tank, cleaned the injectors, replaced fuel filter, replace coolant temperature sensor, replaced a belt, and replaced the starter. When I start it, it does with no hesitation and sounds like it idles fairly smooth, but it always dies after a few seconds unless I feather the throttle. I have cap and rotor, spark plugs, and wires arriving in the mail pretty soon. What else should I be looking at if that doesn't help?

[WmWatt]

Sounds like the ignition control module (ICM, also igniter, transistorized points). They are heat sensitive and deteriorate with age. For more info do a search of this site as there has been plenty of discussion in the past. Good luck.

Oops, “it always dies after a few seconds” sounds like the ICM (mine did that) but “unless I feather the throttle” doesn’t. (not sure what “feather” means) “Feathering” the throttle should have no effect on spark.? So probably not ICM (spark) and should disregard previous post above.

One simple suggestion is to make sure all the hoses (and wires) are on tight. Fuel injector cleaner might help. Mine is carbureted so I use carb cleaner but the idea is the same.

[mike_and_friends]

THanks for the reply man. When I say "feather the throttle" I just mean when I slightly crack it it's enough to keep it alive. I did the distributor cap and rotor, plugs and wires, didn't really help. I think it's a vacuum issue. I did a carb cleaner test while it was (barely) running but it didn't reveal any leaks. I also pulled and plugged the hose that goes into the brake booster, also not that. Pulled the throttle body and cleaned it out real good. Pulled the BAC and cleaned it, and hooked it up to a 9v battery, could here it working internally. I'm at the point where I'm about to just replace all the hoses...

[1990new]

Just read your post Mike... From your description of the problem you having and the things that you say you have done to solve the problem, it sounds to me like youe problem is related to the Vane Air Flow Meter, the fuel pressure regulator, the fuel pump relay, or in rare cases the electronic control assembly itself.
Do you have a Festiva shop manual and or an Electrical & Vacuum Trouble-Shooting Manual.

The fact that it runs a little longer when you feather the throttle lead me to thing it could be related to the fuel pressure regulator on the fuel rail. May or may not be.. just a guess.

If you search the forum using "fuel pressure regulator" you will see some post I made regarding the kind of problem you are having.