Twinstiva Runs...but not the greatest...

[Safety Guy]

I bought my '92L 5 speed several years ago for $190. Good buy, but I'm a procrastinator. I also do not have even moderate electrical skills, so after replacing the gas tank and fuel pump, and looking it over, it still didn't start last summer. I finally broke down and hired a mobile mechanic to come troubleshoot it. Found that the inertia switch was UNPLUGGED ! and the VAF was bad. Wiring was okay otherwise. (I had thought the wiring for the inertia switch was "inside" the body, which is why I didn't notice that!)

I put in my VAF from Luxstiva's old B3 (which tested fine) and upon fuel pump pressuring up, instead of no fuel in the engine compartment, I received TOO MUCH! Turns out it was spraying from one of the injectors. I remember I did have some problems fitting one of the new injector O-rings in when I cleaned all that up last summer.

Yesterday I fixed that! Took about an hour and wasn't too hard.

So she starts, but there is a tapping or knocking sound from the head area. I figure it is either a rocker arm or a valve, but I really don't know this. She also seems to be running "hot." I wonder if there is an overheating or head gasket problem?

After running only a few minutes, I removed the radiator cap and a cup or two of fluid spurted out. Hmmm.

If this is going to be a head removal job, I'll just prep my second B6 for its new home.

Any other ideas on what could be wrong?

Karl

PS: BTW, she felt nice and tight upon limited yard manuevers! She should for only 70K miles! So far I have just under $600 in her: new gas tank, fuel lines, and the mechanic, who showed me what he was doing and was worth the $160 or so for just under 2 hours.

[Pu241]

So she starts, but there is a tapping or knocking sound from the head area. I figure it is either a rocker arm or a valve, but I really don't know this.

Hydraulic lifters manybe?
Oil may have drained out after sitting so long.
If oil is clean, I'd let it idel for a while after finding out "over heating" issue below.

She also seems to be running "hot." I wonder if there is an overheating or head gasket problem?
After running only a few minutes, I removed the radiator cap and a cup or two of fluid spurted out. Hmmm.
If this is going to be a head removal job, I'll just prep my second B6 for its new home. .

What was the temp gauge indicating?
Even a blown head gasket wouldn't necessarily produce an overheating issue!
Lots o' white smoke, water in oil, or oil in water, or even water or oil leaking externally.
As for "fluid spurting out" depending upon how long a few minutes was I'd expect just from expansion and the pump running to have some fluid overflow.

PS: BTW, she felt nice and tight upon limited yard manuevers! She should for only 70K miles! So far I have just under $600 in her: new gas tank, fuel lines, and the mechanic, who showed me what he was doing and was worth the $160 or so for just under 2 hours.

New tank and fuel line is a good investment!
Mechanic that will show you what he's doing and why is well worth $80 an hour. Heck, stealers .... uh I mean dealers charge that and more and they sure as heck don't come to your house!

Don't give up yet on this one!
But, if you do decide to do the B6 swap, I'd be interested in your B3 if only for parts if it turns out it is something serious!

[zrice88]

I'm guessing you have not done an oil change on it recently. Try changing it and adding some STP oil additive. Mine did the same thing and all I did was an oil change with STP additive and she quieted right down. Hope this helps.

BTW- It could also be the injectors clicking if you have a loud one.

[WmWatt]

A piece of plastic tubing or old garden hose is pretty good for pinpointing noises. One end in the ear and the other on the engine. Move the engine end around and listen for where the noise is loudest.

[jglutz]

^^ thats works well...avoid placin the tube on the valve cover or oil pan...they tend to resonate. Best is usually near the manifold ports. or the core plugs on the block. Thou all core plugs will transmitt the noise, one will be louder than the others.

I would do a cold engine then warm engin compression test. Any internal engine problem will show up...If none of the data has an out lier....something is sticky in the valve train.

[Safety Guy]

Thanks guys.

The history:

She sat for a year or two in a driveway before I bought her in February of '06. Then she sat in my yard. Last summer I did the fuel tank and pump changeout and cleaned the FI system under hood. Before winter I drained the radiator and put in antifreeze. Last week I did the oil change and new filter.

I drove her around the short block yesterday and again, everything but the engine noise was fine. I think the "overheating problem" may just be grime burning off the engine. When I allowed her to cool off and then opened the radiator cap, it was at the proper level and didn't spurt out this time. That was maybe half an hour after running her for fifteen minutes or so. And the temp gage did register a bit, so it's working.

I'll next check for the noise locations!

Thanks,

Karl

[collegeboi]

Get that baby back on the road

[Safety Guy]

I shall! I shall!

45mpg here I come!!

Karl

[zoe60]

I'll bet it's just the lash adjusters aren't pumped up yet. Any time I've worked on mine, they tick longer than I would expect afterwards, might have to drive around for awhile. Good luck!

[Safety Guy]

Update!!

Like Zoe and DaveG suggested, I drover her around on the streets for over half an hour yesterday and...

The noise abated!! Nice and (relatively, for a stripped Festiva) quiet now from the engine compartment. She shifts smoothly and handles well (for stock Festy suspension, which I'm not used to).

The brakes are still wearing the rust off the rotors, so braking is not the greatest. I may let this "cleaning" continue for another week or so and then put on new front pads. I also need to replace the OLD brake fluid and bleed her lines out.

Actually, maybe taking off the old pads and scuffing the surface crap with sandpaper would do the trick. What do ya'll think? Cheap is as cheap does!!

I'll rechange the oil in a couple weeks too, just for fun, along with a can of sludge cleaner just before changing. I put on an ultra cheap oil filter because I was planning on this.

She needs a nice wash and wax and interior detailing too.

I hope to have pictures for ya'll in the next week or so. Especially comparing ride height, etc. with Luxstiva, side by side.

I removed the radiator cap before work tonight and the level had dropped maybe a quarter-inch. This could still be the fluid level "settling," I guess. After another couple of longer test runs (including the freeway--I haven't had her above 45 mph yet) I shall find out if there are head gasket problems.

Upon idling after the test drive, the fan finally came on and then went off! Yippee!

No leaks on the big piece of cardboard I had put underneath. So far so good.

TOTAL COST:

$190 for the "project car" with just under 70K miles
$190 or so for the new tank and jy fuel pump with new sock
$30 or so for new fuel lines, minor stuff
$175 including tax for the Mobile Mechanic to work his electrical diagnostic majic

Total is therefore around $585.00! Of course that includes some "learning."

If all goes well, I shall keep the B3 over the winter and maybe do the suspension swap this fall. She'll get my extra B6 next spring or summer.

Thanks everyone!

Here I come, 45 mpg club!

Karl

[MONSOON]

Glad the noise cleared up for you! Id like to see pics of Luxstiva too! :thumbleft: