91 Festiva- engine trouble... maybe tranny trouble too... Anybody help??

[nik]

I'm new here, but think I'm really going to enjoy this place! I had a 88 Festiva about 16 years ago with 50,000 miles and it's still going with 250,000 on it today. Bought a 93 model last year and love it. It was getting 46 mpg, now it's about 43 with rough running right after the start sometimes. Goes great after it gets going. Any ideas???

Always on the look out for other "stevas", I have another for parts and another that we just bought! It looks good. A little dent in the back passenger side. Has factory air that is soposed to work, 5 speed and 150,000 miles. Some confusion with the title... ugh... anyway, should get the title and key next week...

The story is this... motor is soposed to not run. Quit on a long road trip. It is full of oil and radiator is too. They have taken some part right off the top of the motor, but it's in the car.

I'm a little concerned about the transmission. Its a 5 speed and goes into each gear, but feels a little "sloppy". Might even make a click or clank noise occasionally. Haven't looked at it too close, anything that could be undone under there that would be an easy fix?

[Pu241]

nik,
Welcome to the only Festiva site you will ever need!

Can you put you location in your profile?
With this info you may well find you have people close by that can give you a hand with your issue!

[hawkdoc60]

Welcome.

I would start with spraying your carb and especially your choke with carb cleaner. Your choke might be a little sticky.

As for the other car, it sounds like you are talking about the head. If the oil and water were contaminated with each other, it does sound like a head gasket or the head is warped. I would recommend getting the head in the car rebuilt and machined or get a new head. Once together and sealed, it should take care of the prob.

It sounds like the shifter bushings are gone, which would account for the slop. I wouldn't worry about the clanking of the transmission while it is not running. If it is still making noise while running, then we would have to address that issue.

I'm sure i might have left some other posibilities out for your problems, but hopefully, this might get you headed in the right direction.

[WmWatt]

The '93 with the fule problem will not have a carburettor. It would be fuel injected.

One thing which differs when the car warms up is that the oxygen sensor starts sending a signal to the computer which then takes over advancing the spark timing to improve fuel efficiency. Perhaps the base timing used when the engine is still warming up is off. I'm not familiar with the fuel injected engine so do not know how the fuel/air mixture is set (choke?) when the engine is cold, but that could also be a problem, as suggested.

[FB71]

^^^ only if it's North American. Overseas cars had a carb till the late 90's.