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Recently my festiva started breaking down. It used to only do it maybe once every month then it started doing it once a week and now its a frequent occurrence. I'm not a gearhead like a lot of the people on this site so I need some help. I took it to a mechanic and it didn't act up for them to diagnose it. I thought it was the fuel pump but the mechanic said that the fuel pump pressure was correct. I was told by a fellow festiva owner and forum member that it was perhaps the air idle control valve. So I removed the hoses and cleaned them out. It still breaks down. So here are the symptoms. It will start and run for a while and then i will feel a loss of power and then a surge. If I press on the accelerator it will usually not die and even somethimes when i do press on the accelerator it will die anyway. Other times i'll start the car and put it in reverse and it will die when i stop to change to first to pull away. Sometimes it will die at idle when i stop at a stop light/sign. It has yet to break down /die on me on the highway where i usually go 50-65 in fifth. Is it possible for a fuel pump to just go out slowly and only act up every once in a while. any ideas? If I'm leaving something out that you think should also be happening that I didn't mention ask. Thanks!
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O2 sensor.If it don't fit, use a bigger hammer!
'93 Green L - ' Tiva -
That was another of my guesses. Going to change it tomorrow. Hope it fixes the problem. I'll keep y'all updated.Comment
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Should have let me know, if ya have some free time, I can try and take a look at it for ya.Im not driving a Festiva because I'm poor. I drive a Festiva because i want to!
Dennis
93 L Advancedynamics suspension mod, awaiting B6 swap
91 GL B6 sohc, currently in the hands of DAE undergoing top secret work. Soon to be cable G, with stage 3 F1 Kevlar clutch... To be continued
93 GL In progress BP/hydro G
15 Mitsubishi Mirage daily
88 Dakota tow pigComment
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I can't see an O2 sensor causing it to die like that, maybe corrosion on the VAF connector?
1988 323 Station Wagon - KLG4 swapped
1988 323 GT - B6T Powered
2008 Ford Escape - Rollover Survivor
1990 Festiva - First Ever Completed KLZE swap (SOLD)
If no one from the future stops you from doing it, how bad of a decision can it really be?Comment
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Something with the VAF would be my guess also.Originally posted by Damkid View PostRick
1993 Ford Festiva
1986 AMC Eagle Wagon 4.2L/4.0L head, AW4,NP242, Chrysler 8.25" rear. SOLD
1981 AMC Eagle Wagon-As Seen on TV Lost In Transmission
2000 Ford E350Comment
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I might have a spare vaf at my house if need be I can have my dad take a look.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nancy- 1.8L BP, aspire swap, g-trans
The Adventures of Nancy! Build Thread
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My Musica! Click me!Comment
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ive got spare parts too, id say give it the good old wiggle test while its running and see if it makes a difference!1992 white L, Bp, American racing 13's, stock trans.
1991 White L, BP/F5MR, protege header, full aspire swap with gr2's, seats, and sway bar, 15" konig's, short throw, escort console.
1991 blue L, 5 speed.
1988 red L-plus-all stock.Comment
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Sorry I didn't keep you up to date about the problems. I'm back down in bloomington. I've been very busy. thanks for the suggestions. Well took it to the shop assuming it was the o2 sensor. The o2 sensor is so seized up that they would have to torch it off which risks ruining the threads and then I would need a new exhaust manifold. I decided not to risk it since I don't even know if its the O2 sensor. I have some more symptoms now too. It likes to die on hills and now it does this thing when i'll be driving and it will lose all power and the check engine light will come on(motor still running) I'll pump the accelerator and nothing happens. When i put the clutch in and put it down a gear it will sometimes restore power. If i don't put the clutch in it will stall and turn off. What is the VAF and would it be a hard fix? Any new ideas? ThanksOriginally posted by gauge_half_inch View PostComment
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Do the self-test procedure for the CEL. It's trying to tell you something.Comment
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VAF: vane air flow. it's the aluminum box that sits on top of your air filter. it tels the ECU how much air is being drawn into the engine. it is also responsable for turning the fuel pump on via a trigger for the pump relay.
wiggle test the connector, look for corrosion on the connector and pins of the VAF, also look for breaks in the intake tube right after the VAF (in the accordian rubber area).Trees aren't kind to me...
currently: 2 88Ls (Scrappy and Jersey), 88LX, 90L(Pepe), 91L, 91GL (Skippy) 93 GL Sport (the Mighty Favakk), 94 (Bruce) & 95 Aspire SEs, 97 Aspire (The Joker),
94 Justy 4WD, 87 Fiero GT, plus 2 parts cars. That's my fleet.
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Sounds like resistance in an electrical circuit. I'd suspect either fuseable links are corroded and building up resistance, or you have a ground in the PCM circuit that's not tight/not making good contact. All signs point (to me anyway) to corrosion in the ignition circuit.
CEL comes on when the car dies while it's KOEO. That's normal.
On another note, find someone who really is good with electrical diag and let them help. Throwing a shitload of parts at it won't solve anything except padding Vato Zone's bottom line
I've diag'd quite a few cars for friends and nothing sucks more than someone driven bonkers after throwing a fuel pump/MAF/IAC/injectors/PCM at an ignition problem, and I come along and find a loose ground on the fuel pump relay circuit.
1989 Carby L: Stock. Slow.
1998 Mustang Cobra: ported heads, cams, longtubes, 4.30 gears
2016 Focus ST: daily driven go-kartComment
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^ like Arty said, check all the intake hoses really good for cracks or leaks. Sometimes those rubber accordion hoses will develop a crack right where the ribs are, that hides the crack so a mechanic may have missed it. Also, check all your engine ground wires, if you have a broken or corroded engine ground wire it will cause problems like this. It would be good to have a festiva or Mazda enthusiast, that knows the ins and outs of these systems, take a look at your car. Check on club protege or team Capri or even one of the probe/626 pages for someone kind enough and close enough to take a look. It may be obvious to someone who's familiar with engines/fuel injection. Good luck.Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.Comment
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Lol, it seems Don and I were both thinking very similar things at the exact same time! haha.
Driving for me is neither a right nor a privilege. Driving is my passion, as it was for the people who invented the automobile, the people who paved the first roads and the people who continue to improve the automobile. Please respect this passion.Comment
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I worked 4 years as an AC/electrical tech for Ford/Lincoln, and I owned a SVO.Originally posted by Advancedynamix View PostLol, it seems Don and I were both thinking very similar things at the exact same time! haha.
Yes, I will accept pity and condolences!1989 Carby L: Stock. Slow.
1998 Mustang Cobra: ported heads, cams, longtubes, 4.30 gears
2016 Focus ST: daily driven go-kartComment
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