festiva barely running

[GenevaDirt]

found the problem

I take it you have been into that before? There is a silicone seal on there that should not leak if no one has messed with it.

Glad you figured it out.

[Ghost]

I take it you have been into that before? There is a silicone seal on there that should not leak if no one has messed with it.

Glad you figured it out.

the electronics were swapped into this housing. i noticed the silicon wasnt looking in the best shape so i thought i would check it out. its wet and gross inside. the biggest issue is that the flapper on the vaf is binding up. its hard to press and it wont return shut... which would explain why it was running like it was.

any ideas/suggestions on how to lubricate it and clean it?

[Ghost]

ok now im stumped.

i spray a little wd40 on the pivotingpoint of the flapper on the vaf. i moved it back and forth a few times and in a few seconds it was moving freely like new. i sprayed all the electronics really good with electronic parts cleaner and i let it dry. i put the lid back on with rtv silicon and let that dry as well. i installed it. and it wouldnt start at all... it just cranks and cranks.

-when i turn the key on, i dont hear the fuel pump prime, and the fuel pressure stays at zero. if i push the flapper open a tiny bit, then the fuel pump turns on and the pressure jumks to like 60psi, when i let off the flapper it settles to around 40psi or so.

- i checked for spark in 2 different cylinders, neither had any whatsoever.
-both plugs i pulled were dry, so i dont think it is getting fuel either
- no smell of fuel in the exhaust or in the spark plug holes after turning it over without the plugs in
- i tried testing for spark at the wire going into the dizzy, this also gave zero spark
-i cant find anything unplugged
-all fuses are good


.....sooo no spark and no fuel.... even if i completly somehow destroyed the vaf, it couldnt cause no spark right?

[econoaddict]

.....sooo no spark and no fuel.... even if i completly somehow destroyed the vaf, it couldnt cause no spark right?

Yes, I have been in that exact situation.

Turn the key to the "on" position, does the check engine light come on?

[econoaddict]

When my vaf went bad the check engine light wouldn't light with the key on engine off, of course it should be on until the engine starts.
After installing a good vaf the light worked correctly.

[Ghost]

i just checked and the light isnt coming on. i pulled the vaf off again and pulled the cover off. everything still is connected and looked good. is there a way to test it? i think it is some sort of hybrid vaf so i really dont wanna replace it.

[Ghost]

a little research shows this is the vaf i am using lol. not sure about the electronics though

http://www.tav-autoverwertung.de/shop/AIR-FLOW-METER-Mazda-F20113210-197100-3420-K-F201-13-210-1971003420

[econoaddict]

We just put another in my car and vroom it ran great.

[Ghost]

its definitely my vaf. i unplugged the vaf and pulled it apart. everything looked normal. i was pushing the festiva out of the shop and i had the key on so i could steer... i noticed the check engine light was on. so i tried to start it. whatdayaknow, it starts with the vaf unplugged. of course it dies as soon as i touch the gas but that just narrowed down my trouble shooting.

so i know where my maf came from... but its still probably been modded in some way... and since i dont have a wideband hooked up, i dont really want to chance running one that is different.

so for now i would like to see if i can fix mine. is there someway to test them?

[sasquatch]

the "k" series vaf will give you more hp cause its a bigger vaf... all you have to do is swap in the escort gt guts in to it ("U" code i think...) its like a "b" code vaf swap but cheaper changing the stuff inside of it should fix your problem...

[Ghost]

can someone show me a pic of the bp vaf internals so i know thats what i have exactly?

[Ghost]

i figured it out. the wire that connected one of the pins to the control board got bent a little and was barely touching the next pin. i seperated them and it started right up. thanks. now i gotta figure out my minor idle issue.