Unusual Idle/Throttle/Drive Issue

[Aaronbrook37]

Hey all,

I'll say right out for Monsoon's sake that I have yet to search for solutions to this problem... because I'm not exactly sure what it is that is wrong or how I go about fixing it. That said, here's what I thought would be the easy way to document this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCLE5Vnq1EI

That video above will tell you most of what I've seen happening and what I know. The car seems to be only partially receiving throttle inputs, and it seems to almost drop RPM when I put my foot down a little bit. With enough pedal to the metal, it does rev up fine past 4000RPM. To drive it back home (I was just down the street) I had to stay above 3000RPM or so with a fairly high throttle percentage in first.

Thanks in advance! This video will also partially show you how a 6'11" driver fits into a Festiva haha. Cheers,

Aaron

[jriederer]

White smoke is usually antifreeze burning. Compression check the cylinders, I'll bet one or more is low. I'd check the head gasket.

[sasquatch]

sounds like head gasket to me too... compression check it and that will give you your answer...

[Aaronbrook37]

LOL turns it out it was an engine bay cleaning gone wrong. Scott (leapin) came to visit after it started working normally again and told me that the electronics on this car are notorious for throwing the car out of wack if they aren't covered. My Mitsubishi background has been that electrical components are fine and dandy uncovered, so my mistake haha. It's a good lesson for anyone else looking to wash their bay! Thanks for your help though guys!

It does explain the jittery nature as well as the radiator smoke. Trying to figure out where the exhaust white smoke came from though...

[jriederer]

Cleaning solution in the intake/air cleaner? Water/soap would throw off the air/fuel mix, and probably burn white as well.