Bogs, stalls, won't go.

[jamesmc]

Went to my car today and it was running rough. In gear, it will only move if my foot is barely on the pedal. If I push hard, it just won't go. No way it makes it up a hill. It will also stall randomly once out of gear. This happened once before when it rained, but the problem went away when the car warmed up. It's very humid out and rainy, so I guess something is getting wet. Car is warm and still being stubborn. Any ideas? I checked over the engine a bit and everything seemed fine. (Mainly disty wires, MAF.)

[jamesmc]

Been playing with it a bit, and the only way I could get it to stay on now is if the Coolant Temp Sensor is unplugged...strange. It seems similar to this.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12969&highlight=coolant+temp+sensor+stall

It doesn't look like it was ever fixed though...? =\

[Pu241]

"Rainy humid and wet"; betting on plug wires.
When was the last time they were changed?
They degrade and micro cracks let moisture get in and suppress high voltage flow.
If you can get it started the engine heat will usually dry them out, till you shut it down and then the moisture is reabsorbed.

Which temp senor are you refering to, as there are three temp sensors on the B3?

[FestYboy]

can the engine rev in nutral? given your discription, it sounds like your's is an auto.

[jamesmc]

can the engine rev in nutral? given your discription, it sounds like your's is an auto.

It's 5 speed. If I floor the pedal in neutral it just kinda sits above 1000 RPM. The car has been running with this issue all day as I had no other choice. Stalling at stop signs, and the like. I guess new plug wires can't hurt, as I'm not sure how old they are anyway.

[jamesmc]

Which temp senor are you refering to, as there are three temp sensors on the B3?

The green one in the back, next to the injectors.

[Pu241]

Plug wires' aren't going to solve this whole issue, but from your original post I'm sure they need replaced and will only help.

[Pu241]

The green one in the back, next to the injectors.

Is it possible to swap your unit out for known good one?

[jamesmc]

Is it possible to swap your unit out for known good one?

Not right now. In Canada, far away from home right now. (Halifax...made the 1000mi trip just fine!) I was hoping it's not too complicated of a fix, otherwise it goes into the shop. =\

[FestYboy]

i bet you have a clogged cat. see if you can remove the cat bolts and try to rev the engine again, if it doesn't rev, then i'd look at your TPS.

[littlecar]

I had a similar problem. It ended up being a bad coolant temp sensor.

[jamesmc]

Took it to a mechanic and he said that it could be a stuck EGR valve. He couldn't fix it right away so I still have it right now. I looked in the Haynes, and I can't find this thing anywhere on my car? Where is it? lol

[Pu241]

Uh, might want to find another mechanic.
'90-'93 Festivas do not have an EGR valve.
The Carbies do and the '94-97 Aspires do.

[FestYboy]

i'm sayin', pull that cat off and check to see that the engine revs properly.

[Pu241]

What Festyboy says!

Just have to loosen the Nuts on the front of the cat that couple it to the down pipe.
That way you don't have to replace any gaskets.
Think those are 17mm nuts.