Please Help: VAF!

[redbirds25to5]

Disclaimer: I'm a Festiva novice.

I went to change my air filter for the first time, removed everything to get to the housing, and the hookup attached to my VAF (the metallic box on top of the air filter housing) disconnected. This left me looking at some tiny metal connections.

Then, one of the connecting pieces broke off when I carefully worked with tweezers to reconnect the wires. Of course, I held onto this piece.

My questions: Can this connection be salvaged with a tiny weld? Do I need a new VAF?

In any case, my car currently won't run, and it's bus time for me to get to work until this is fixed. If anybody knows of a good shop in Cincinnati, that'd be helpful too.

[georgeb]

That device is the VAF. Did the piece break off the VAF or the harness? You can get another VAF from a junk yard or site member. Don't know about the harness.

[redbirds25to5]

I broke off one of those tiny metal harnesses in the picture. The rest of the wire is connected to the VAF.

[Darlo]

I am sure someone here has EXACTLY what you need! (Your post sounds like one of my posts, lol.....)

[redbirds25to5]

Yep, all because I had to go and change my air filter. Otherwise, before this gaffe, my car has been running great!

[jamesmc]

It doesn't look like you broke the harness, just the VAF.

In the left of this picture is the VAF connector (harness), you disconnect this from the VAF by undoing the metal clip and pulling it off. On the VAF, the two screws are not supposed to be taken off. (It looks like you mistakenly did this. I did too, my first time. )


Now if that is what you did, you probably messed up the internal connectors of the VAF. You have two options. Either, replace the VAF. (Easy, but may be hard to locate one.) Or try to fix the internals of the VAF. (More difficult.) If you choose to try to fix it, take the black top off the VAF. Just cut through the silicone with a razor blade/knife, and pull it off like so.


This is what it looks like. When I did the same thing to my VAF, I just continually messed around with the connectors, trying to get them to look correct until the car stayed on. (I have no idea what any of these pins do, but it eventually worked.) You might be able to solder that piece that broke off back on.


Sorry I don't have substantial knowledge about how the VAF works, but this should at least give you somewhere to start. I eventually replaced my repaired VAF for a good unit, but finding one could take a few days.

Also, if you do get it working, reseal the top of the VAF. Or you could end up stuck in a foreign country with a half-working Festiva like I did.

[georgeb]

Don't know without looking at one, but sometimes a harness connector can be repaired by pulling it out of the back of the plastic and soldering a similar male or female connector to it and pushing it back in.

[redbirds25to5]

James, that's excellent advice. Also, that's exactly what I did, pulling the connecting harness off of the VAF. For now, I will cut through the silicone and look to fix this tomorrow.

It should be alot easier to deal with once I cut through all of the tape that the previous owner applied to the harness (the reason why I unscrewed those two screws on the VAF in the first place).

Again, thanks so much. I'll keep my struggles/successes posted. Now, off to catch the bus to my overnight box-tossing occupation!

[Darlo]

James, that's excellent advice. Also, that's exactly what I did, pulling the connecting harness off of the VAF. For now, I will cut through the silicone and look to fix this tomorrow.

It should be alot easier to deal with once I cut through all of the tape that the previous owner applied to the harness (the reason why I unscrewed those two screws on the VAF in the first place).

Again, thanks so much. I'll keep my struggles/successes posted. Now, off to catch the bus to my overnight box-tossing occupation!

Make sure to take pics as you do this too, that way if you get stuck, you can simply post the issue up here.......This site is great for people like me who are mechanically challenged! (I did change my battery! )

[redbirds25to5]

I will, Darlo. As it appears to me already, this area is the most complicated spot on a Festiva. Well, at least the most complicated thing I'll ever want to deal with. I'm going to feel like a computer technician after I'm done with this. As I've already tried the "hookup, start the car, hookup start the car" technique, James' pictures are a great shortcut for me! I'm having one of those "Ahhh, that's where it was supposed to go" moments.

[nitrofarm]

This is what it looks like. When I did the same thing to my VAF, I just continually messed around with the connectors, trying to get them to look correct until the car stayed on. (I have no idea what any of these pins do, but it eventually worked.) You might be able to solder that piece that broke off back on.

Sorry I don't have substantial knowledge about how the VAF works, but this should at least give you somewhere to start. I eventually replaced my repaired VAF for a good unit, but finding one could take a few days.

Also, if you do get it working, reseal the top of the VAF. Or you could end up stuck in a foreign country with a half-working Festiva like I did.

LOL You def are a Festiva owner. Love it !

[freshtiva]

Yep, all because I had to go and change my air filter. Otherwise, before this gaffe, my car has been running great!

You dont have to remove the connection to service the air filter.

[GenevaDirt]

redbird....let us know if you need a new one....I have a few as others do I am sure

[Biff]

Like Geneva dirt says, "redbird....let us know if you need a new one....I have a few as others do I am sure "
I just removed one from a 1992 Festiva, a little farther away, but it is available.

[Pu241]

You dont have to remove the connection to service the air filter.

Fresh beat me to it!

There are four 10mm stainless steel bolts holding the halves of the plastic air filter housing to gether.
The VAF itself ismounted to the upper half.
Generally, all I do is squeeze the flexible air tube going from the VAF to the plastic plumbing on top of the engine to remove it from the holder.
Undo the 4 bolts.
Lift out the old filter.
wipe/vacuum out the chamber.
Insert new filter and seat.
tighten down the 4 bolts and push the fex tube back in its holder and your done.

Now that said, one time I did unscrew the two screws which holds the connector to the metal body of the VAF.
Severed all the connections!
Soldered them all back on and continued to get 40 to 50 MPG.