Idle Screw Adjustment Question/Dist Cap & Rotor Question/EGR Valve Question

[tomnorman457]

I'm still trying to fix my rough idle/stalling issues. And I wanted to check with you before I did anything that could make it worse.

Which way do I turn the cogged white screw to increase the idle speed?. Do I turn the screw IN (clockwise), or do I turn the screw OUT (counterclockwise) to increase the idle speed?

The dist cap and rotor appear to be original, and I plan on replacing them. After all they are 22 years old, and have 125K miles on them. Could corrosion and/or crud on the dist cap and rotor contacts cause a poor idle and stalling?

I read somewhere that a stuck EGR valve can cause a poor idle and stalling. I disconnected the EGR vacuum line, and put vacuum on the EGR valve. It held vacuum just fine. When I released the vacuum I could feel (and hear) the EGR valve functioning. The rubber diaphragm moved freely up/down when I applied/released vacuum. So it appears that the EGR valve is OK.

I left the EGR valve disconnected, and plugged the vacuum line that feeds it with a screw. My wife then took her Festy for a drive. She said that it only stalled one time on her, and she thought that was because she didn't downshift soon enough when coming to a stop. It appears that disconnecting the EGR valve and plugging the vacuum line actually made it idle more smoothly (still not what I want though), and it didn't stall on her when she took it for a drive. For now, I've left the EGR valve disconnected. Do you have any ideas on what I need to check? Do I have a problem somewhere else in the EGR system or the vacuum lines? I checked all the vacuum lines that I can see, and saw nothing amiss.

Thanks for any guidance you can give me, As a first-time Festy owner, I hope I'm not overlooking something obvious.

Tom

[Festiva Time]

Idle Screw Adjustment: Clockwise [in] to increase idle speed.

Your EGR still maybe bad. Also the passageway connected to the EGR maybe partially clogged with exhaust carbon.

If you are not running Platinum SparkPlugs, You should. The cheaper priced ones are just good as the more expensive ones.

[tomnorman457]

Thank you!

[iceracerdude]

Idle Screw Adjustment: Clockwise [in] to increase idle speed.

What?

[Pu241]

If you are not running Platinum SparkPlugs, You should. The cheaper priced ones are just good as the more expensive ones.

I disagree and someone with way more automotive knowledge than I says otherwise:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showpost.php?p=154083&postcount=12

[91_festy_Gl]

Standard NGK's work wonders.

[tomnorman457]

Thanks guys, but spark plugs are not my main concern, at least not at this point.

My main concern is trying to figure out what vacuum lines are actually missing, and where they should actually be routed, particularly concerning the distributor vacuum advance. Tom

[TominMO]

Absolutely change the disty cap, rotor and plug wires, along with using NGK V-power plugs. Change these things at least every 50K miles, except the wires change every 100K. Get the best-quality components you can find. Also, every 5000 miles, pull the cap and use an emery board or something to file down the crud that builds up on the contact points inside the cap, and on the rotor.

[Festiva Time]

I disagree and someone with way more automotive knowledge than I says otherwise:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...3&postcount=12

************************************************** ********
I have had Platinum Plugs fire when the old-style copper plugs won't. I never had a misfire problem with Platinum Plugs, but I have had Copper Plugs fail after a few 100 miles of use.

I do not recommend the Platinum Plugs with 3 or 4 electrodes, simply because the spark is generated in a pocket created by the electrodes, making it harder [in theory] to ignite the air/fuel mixture.

[ericsmith32]

Absolutely change the disty cap, rotor and plug wires, along with using NGK V-power plugs. Change these things at least every 50K miles, except the wires change every 100K. Get the best-quality components you can find.

Whatever you do don't get BWD's Select Part # C689 dist. cap.. had it on 2 Festiva's and both times had random misfires. Replaced with a regular cap and have had no problems!