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So I've been bending over backwards trying to figure out exactly is going on with my beloved Festiva. I've searched through the forums and have read similar posts and tried their fixes with no luck. Here's a summary of the symptoms I'm experiencing, and some of the preventive measures I've tried inducing to help:
On all cold starts, while in park, car idles rough and struggles to stay running without foot applied to gas. If it dies, it immediately starts back up with no problems. If I give it enough gas, and then let it idle again, sometimes the idle speed goes up and down (like a roller coaster) momentarily. When gearshift switches to drive, engine begins to run worse and usually stumbles and dies. When in reverse, symptoms are even WORSE. The car sounds like it is barely able to run at all. While in first gear still, upon taking off, it usually hesitates for a few seconds before moving like it should. It should also be noted that once the car is driven for a while and is warmed up, the problems never cause the car to die. It may run a little rough, but never shuts off. CEL not coming on, no codes flashing. It's a '91 automatic with 105k on the meter. Once the car gets up to 20mph or highway speeds (65+), it runs perfect and smooth (which doesn't make me assume it's a timing issue, correct me if I'm wrong).
It has a new PCV valve, new plugs (Bosch +4's), new wires (Bosch), new O2 sensor (Bosch) new distributor cap and rotor and air filter. Old plugs were Champion copper's, the ends were white (but not ashy). The battery was checked and determined to be going out, it's having problems keeping proper voltage and one of the terminals is starting to get corroded. All fluids are clean, gas tank is nearly empty, so I will be running Seafoam through it tomorrow and filling up with Shell gasoline.
I checked voltage at all the sensors, checked for vacuum leaks, sprayed the throttle body and air intake with cleaner, cleaned out all the crankcase hoses and can NOT figure out what else it could be. Maybe it's so obvious I'm completely missing it! (Unless it's the battery).
Coolant temperature sensor perhaps? Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
On all cold starts, while in park, car idles rough and struggles to stay running without foot applied to gas. If it dies, it immediately starts back up with no problems. If I give it enough gas, and then let it idle again, sometimes the idle speed goes up and down (like a roller coaster) momentarily. When gearshift switches to drive, engine begins to run worse and usually stumbles and dies. When in reverse, symptoms are even WORSE. The car sounds like it is barely able to run at all. While in first gear still, upon taking off, it usually hesitates for a few seconds before moving like it should. It should also be noted that once the car is driven for a while and is warmed up, the problems never cause the car to die. It may run a little rough, but never shuts off. CEL not coming on, no codes flashing. It's a '91 automatic with 105k on the meter. Once the car gets up to 20mph or highway speeds (65+), it runs perfect and smooth (which doesn't make me assume it's a timing issue, correct me if I'm wrong).
It has a new PCV valve, new plugs (Bosch +4's), new wires (Bosch), new O2 sensor (Bosch) new distributor cap and rotor and air filter. Old plugs were Champion copper's, the ends were white (but not ashy). The battery was checked and determined to be going out, it's having problems keeping proper voltage and one of the terminals is starting to get corroded. All fluids are clean, gas tank is nearly empty, so I will be running Seafoam through it tomorrow and filling up with Shell gasoline.
I checked voltage at all the sensors, checked for vacuum leaks, sprayed the throttle body and air intake with cleaner, cleaned out all the crankcase hoses and can NOT figure out what else it could be. Maybe it's so obvious I'm completely missing it! (Unless it's the battery).
Coolant temperature sensor perhaps? Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated.
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