TLC for a neglected Festy

[c_hix]

I just bought a 1989 Festiva L, manual 4-speed, 92,000 miles, from very nice people who don't know squat about cars. My husband and I have done quite a bit of our own mechanic work over the years, but only on Toyotas. We have the Haynes for the Festy and are good to go, but I need to know what to tackle first.

This poor thing got an oil change (at a Quickie Lube place) about 2000 miles ago that left it with an overfill of half a quart, near as I could tell. There is oil stain around the PCV valve and the fill cap. The dip stick was WAY up, I loosened the oil filter to let enough drain out to get down to the F. What damage might I be looking at from the overfill? I'm keeping an eye out for leaks, but haven't spotted any yet.

Fuel economy isn't very good, I am getting a new fuel filter, any other suggestions?

There is a slight road noise from the front that disappears only when the wheels are aimed dead straight. Wheel bearings? Or just tire noise?

When the car is warmed up, an odd cha-cha-CHA three-beat noise arises from the passenger side of the engine, somewhere around the belts/alternator/water pump area. Water pump going?

Overall, the car runs well at the moment, but I know that a few oil changes are the only maintenance it has had for the past five years. What things should I check out/change out/worry about? I really like this little car, and I'd like it to last.

Colleen in Houghton, Michigan

[Pu241]

c hix,

Well come aboard!

I'll address the oil over fill by saying that a friend of mine which used to service many many festivas (he had the maintanence contract for a major cities 1 hr photo processing company and they used Festivas). He used to use 4 quarts of oil on all the festivas, which I beleive is a 0.6 Qt over fill. The stain around the PVC valve and filler cap is common. Likely need a new PVC valve anyway. Or some brake cleaning fluid to clean it out and check it is working properly might do. either way they pretty cheap. So I'd spend my time worry about something else!

Houghton, MI!!!!!!!!!
I might be headed up that way to see a person about conductive polymers.
Theres a little school up thay way with a professor with an expertise in conductive materials I need to speak with.

Pu241

[Safety Guy]

Welcome Colleen!

First thing I'd check are the ball joints. You need to jack up the front of the car and use a prybar to see if the ball joints on the control arms are loose below the knuckles. If one fails, you could lose control of the car! Very important!

Also, check the rear wheel bearings and change them out if necessary. Check for rust on your hard brake lines.

Haynes is good. Ford shop manuals are better. Get on ebay and you should be able to pick one up for around $25 or so shipped (last I looked). Either the '88 or '89 manuals should work because they both cover the carbed models with 4 speeds.

What gas mileage are you getting in what kind of driving?

If you are only getting around 35 highway, that is a function of your 4 speed and is probably about right. Check with other 4 speed owners to see what they are getting.

Karl

[jglutz]

^^3.6 qts....wow I missed that one.....I've been dumping 4 qts in since.....ever. I never had a problem.

Road noise when not aimed staight...hmmmmmm...at any speed? if their is no vibration in the steering wheel at any other time, I would suspect the wheel bearings.

What should you do....with all the used cars I've ever worked on....excluding normal tune up stufff...the first thing for me is to always flush the coolant system, change the t'stat, rad cap and all of the rubber and clamps. Over heating will trash an engine...a bad spark plug won't

Welcome to the forum

[freshtiva]

If the front end noise is clicking or knocking unless the wheels are straight it could be the halfshafts. I bought a festiva and the previous owner did a five quart oil change. I ended up replacing the crank and camshaft seals on it. I suspect the overfill for that. With 92,000 on that festy it could last a long time. Any money you spent on it you will get in return. Sounds like it found a good home. Welcome to the forum!!! If you have any questions this is the place to get answers.

[scitzz]

I THINK the danger from an overfill is damage to catalytic converter, but i have always use 4 quarts as well.....

[c_hix]

Thanks for the info and welcomes! You guys are great.

Pu241: I'll put the PVC on my to-do list. And when/if you hit Houghton to hobnob at MTU, drop me an email and I'll buy you a beer at the KBC. (That goes for anyone else who manages to make it all the way up here!)

Karl: I'm getting 34.4 mpg, mixed small-town and highway driving (and I tend to zip around). So maybe the previous owners were a bit unrealistic about promising 40+ mpg? I need to read more in the archives here about boosting mileage, and what to expect from a 4-speed.

Joe L and Freshtiva: The road noise is a low hum, at all speeds, no vibration in the steering or anything else, but it's only when the wheels are anything but dead straight. Very weird, but totally tolerable unless it indicates there's a problem brewing.

Everybody: Any ideas about the cute noise from the passenger side of the engine when it's warmed up? I listened again this a.m. and it's more like cha-CHAKA-cha, cha-CHAKA-cha. When Toyota water pumps go, they scream at you, they don't sing the cha-cha, so I'm not sure what this is.

I just want to let you forum folks know how much we appreciate your efforts here; you already saved us some $$ and time after I read the threads about the cooling system--my dh was convinced the temp gauge didn't work and was all set to replace it, along with getting the wrong t-stat and wanting to re-wire the fan because it never came on! Festivas are a different kind of car...


Colleen

[freshtiva]

The low hum road noise probably is front wheel bearings. How is the timing belt dust cover ? Does the car have A/C ?

[Safety Guy]

Colleen, 34+ mpg in combined driving sounds excellent to me. The more "city" driving you do the less you need the fifth gear. The big justification for going to the trouble of doing a 5 speed swap is if you planned to do a lot of highway driving. Both manual transaxles are the same, but the 5 speed simply tacks on an extra gear. It will not only allow you to lower your engine speed on the freeway, but also lower the noise levels! IIRC, the drop is almost 1000 rpm at around 65 mph.

If you go easy at around 60 mph on the freeway, you could probably get 40 mpg or better.

BTW, that valve is called the "PCV" valve. It stands for "positive crankcase ventilation." (PVC is a kind of plastic.) Very easy to change.

I can't help you with that engine noise, but how many miles does this have and has it had the timing belt changed yet? I think the factory says around 60K miles it should be replaced. Good time to do the water pump too.

As for the "low hum road noise," make sure it's not the rear bearings. Are you sure it's from the front wheels? Than again, I'm not certain what bad front bearings sound like. I may have bad fronts myself!

Post some pics of your car when you can!

Good luck!

Karl

[WmWatt]

You don't say if the car engine is carburetted or fuel injected.

The very nice people you bought the car from might have been very gentle on the gas pedal - the smoother the ride the better the fuel economy. My carburetted '89 burns 6.24 litres every 100 km on average over the past two years, according to my fuel records, all city driving.

[scitzz]

If I do about 55-60 on the hway in my 5spd, I can approach 50mpg. I tend to do 80-90, and get about 37mpg. Big whopping difference, depends on your driving style....

[stefan]

^- If its an 89 L 4spd it will be carbed

[jglutz]

Hi c-hix

First repair I would make....the cooling system....flush it out....change the t'stat, rad cap and all of the hoses...clamps as necessary. Something I have found good to do with all used cars thru my stable...one over heat and all of the other investments will be lost.

[gdawgs]

The low hum road noise probably is front wheel bearings. How is the timing belt dust cover ? Does the car have A/C ?

I would suspect tires before wheel bearings. A bad tire can make a surprising amount of noise. The front wheel bearings are pretty reliable on these things(as are the rears if they are installed properly). I doubt they are bad at 9x,xxx miles. One way to check, jack up one of the front wheels and place the car on a jack stand. Start the car, put it in high gear, and slowly run it up to about 40mph on the speedo. If the sound it gone, probably tires. If it's still there, probably wheel bearings. Then jack up the other side and do the same thing to test that wheel.

[c_hix]

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody. Lots to think about and tinker with!

Colleen