Need parts help

[blackhandbeagles]

I bought a 1993 festiva that had been raced(my first festy) and had hail damage. The odometer said 113,xxx miles. The engine seems to be really noisy on the top end, but it runs fine. I have replaced the passenger front axle, all front rotors and brakes, front wheel bearings, oxygen sensor, exhaust, tires, driver's side ball joint, etc...

I bought this thing for $1000, I now have $2300 in it. The steering rack is shot. The gas gauge only works from full to 3/4 full. Sometimes the speedometer jumps all over the place, especially when cold but the odometer is still working correctly. I am getting 41mpg on 87 octane, and I thought I would get better. When I am going about 65 mph or above, the front end shakes really bad. I put new tires on and didn't fix the problem. I moved the tire configuration around and the problem stays. It may be a bent wheel, or the steering rack. Where the inner tie rod connects to the rack, you can move the tie rods up and down quite a bit.

For me to keep this thing, I need to come up with at least a speedometer head, a new steering rack, and preferably a drivers side front axle. Buying this stuff from Autozone or wherever is killing me.

Am I just stupid to keep dumping money in this thing, or do you folks know of a good source for quality used parts. By the way, I have saved about $800 in fuel over driving my truck. I drive 110 miles a day.

[V8Festiva]

With the gas savings you will win at some point. Looks like the car was given bad treatment before you got it. Once you have replaced all the bad parts I would think you will see more savings.
Getting over 40 mpg is very good. It would cost much more to buy a new car that would even get near that level of mpg.

I like my car very much. I drive it or one of my other Festivas everyday. I go out to lunch sometimes with my co-workers. They want to drive, but I most of the time talk them into taking my Festiva instead. I just love driving it that much.
Always easy to find a place to park too.

Some people pay good money to go to a go-cart track. There is one close to where I live.
The ride only lasts a few minutes and your money is gone.

I can hardly wait till I drive back up to Ohio next year 10 or so hours. Cause that is a lot of fun driving.

If you just have the car to save money then at some point you will have fixed everything and there should be many years of savings.

My first Festiva was a 93 and was given to me. It had a bad alternater and someone had knocked out the back glass. I found another parts Festiva for 100.00 . Used the parts off it and now five years later still no problems, all I have done is change the oil.
It keeps going , going and going.
Best and most fun car I have ever had.

Maybe you could find a parts Festiva that had not been driven so hard and that would be your parts to keep your car running many more years.

Dean
Raleigh, NC

[V8Festiva]

What is your location?

Maybe someone here can help you that is near.


Dean
Raleigh, NC

[Pu241]

II bought this thing for $1000, I now have $2300 in it. The steering rack is shot. The gas gauge only works from full to 3/4 full. Sometimes the speedometer jumps all over the place, especially when cold but the odometer is still working correctly. I am getting 41mpg on 87 octane, and I thought I would get better. For me to keep this thing, I need to come up with at least a speedometer head, a new steering rack, and preferably a drivers side front axle.
Am I just stupid to keep dumping money in this thing, or do you folks know of a good source for quality used parts. By the way, I have saved about $800 in fuel over driving my truck. I drive 110 miles a day.

So actually, your only $200 in the hole from parts because of the $800 in fuel savings over your truck.

I have an extra speedo cluster (non-tach) PM me with a reasonable offer!
While your at it lub the speedo cable and that should help with the cold jumping about.
Also, slow down and your MPG will get better, also possible to go to 89 octane and get better mileage at the same speed.
Just have to see if the extra cost for 89 is recouped with sufficent mileage to be worth it!
2nd V8Festiva's suggestion of adding your location to your profile.
Go to "CP User" in the blue bar at the top od this screen then "edit profile" in the left Control Panel-Settings & Options.

[blackhandbeagles]

I appreciate the replies. I live east of Newark, Ohio out in the country. I am going to hold off on the speedo until I can make sure the front end is fine. You know, fix the critical stuff first. I did lube the speedo cable. The bearings have gone bad in the head on the face side. The back side seems fine.

I am saving about $100 per one thousand miles driven, so keeping the car definitely has it's appeal.