Hesitating, problems accelerating

[Sephy93]

Just recently bought a Festiva, it runs decently, but I have to push the gas pedal down just right for it to accelerate. For instance if I hold it to the floor it does nothing, especially up hills it hesitates. I changed the fuel pump thinking that could be part of the problem, but didn't work.. Was wondering what else it could be, i know festiva's aren't power houses, but it should be running better.. Thanks for all your input..

1993
5 Spd

[91mcnasty]

is it missing out or just a lack of power?

[FestYboy]

wondering if the TPS isn't giving the ECM a WOT signal when it's to the floor....?

[Sephy93]

Not missing, just a lack of power. Compression is all good, just can't figure it out lol.. Even going up a small upgrade it loses lots of power..

[FestYboy]

can you run the engine through its entire rev band under power in 2nd gear or doesn it choke out? have you replaced your airfilter recently? how old are the plugs/wires/cap/rotor? if all the above are in good shape, the next place i would go would be the coil... on several ocations of low power, it's been the coil giving up. once a new coil was installed, i had power again.

[Sephy93]

I just started driving it a few days ago, i am going to change the plugs, wires etc just to do it.. Guess I should have started there first to eliminate them as the problem.. No matter what gear I am in if I press the pedal down completely, nothing.. I wonder if a clogged cat would cause a problem like this? Thanks for the help guys btw.

[FestYboy]

no, a clogged cat would allow you to rev to like 3000 or less and keep you there no matter what the load is. i'm still thinking it's a TPS issue ATM, but lets start at the bottom and take care of PM items first.

[link5186]

Sounds kinda like how mine acts. My clutch is on it's way out (and has been for a while). Does it kinda surge trying to accelerate on flat road (especially in 2nd)? Do the rpms drop or stay steady/climb during the hesitation? A bad clutch will make taking hills terrible, and you'll get what feels like a loss of power without a change in engine speed.

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[Sephy93]

Clutch has never slipped and feels pretty strong, its almost like if you were in 5th gear going up a steep hill, but feels that way up little hills as well.. I have to apply the right amount of pressure to the gas pedal to get it to go.

[FordFestiva]

I am starting to have the same problem. I took my air filter out, but still same issue. I am guessing I have corrosion in the distributor cap.

[FestYboy]

have you swapped out the VAF yet?

[FordFestiva]

Vane Air Flow? What and where is this? A sensor?

[FordFestiva]

VAF = MAF; I test MAF by tapping them and see if they make and break and cause the engine to react. Can I do the same with the VAF?

[FestYboy]

not really as the MAF is a hot wire current sensing system and the VAF is a flapper door driven potentiometer system.

[kjchernov]

Hey. I had a problem like yours when a water get through the MAF's cover. I suggest you to open it's cover, clean MAF (with Vodka or alcohol) and get the cover on a sealant. The simptoms were:
1) car accelerating when I'm pressing accelerator pedal on 1/3 maximum, if more - it starts to caugh, like there are not enough air to burn fuel.
2) MAF's cover was in water. It happened right after big rain.