Computer Elimination

[WTFestiva]

Hey guys,

I'm still having some issues getting my festiva going. basically no gas getting to the engine after I replaced and re-timed the timing belt. Anyways this thread isn't about that. My main mechanic is wanting to take a look at my car and he said he wants to eliminate the computer entirely. Is this even possible? He claims to have done it to other cars, but I've never heard of it. Thoughts on this?

[RhodeStiva]

did you check the reset button located driverside trunk right behind shocks a little access

[Flw Sock]

I've never heard of it either, but if it actually works I think it would be a great mod.

[MrFishah]

I don't like that idea... Even if it does work, it seems like a pretty ghetto bandaid solution.

These cars aren't very complicated. If you've confirmed that the fuel lines/filter/injectors aren't clogged and the pump is working, then you could consider a faulty computer. It seems a lot easier to replace with a junkyard computer if that's the cause of your problems though. I also have my doubts that it's a bad computer causing your issue...

Was the car working perfectly before you replaced the timing belt?

[georgeb]

I don't know of any way to eliminate the computer without converting it to a earlier carb setup.

[Advancedynamix]

Don't eliminate your fuel injection. Especially on a rally car. Carburetors don't really like being jumped and tossed, where it doesn't bother the fuel injection. The computer most likely isn't your problem anyway, they seldom go bad and if it is bad then I have one you can have for the price of shipping, heck, I'll even ship it and consider me a silent sponsor. Lol, just keep these cool pictures coming. Since the car is bounced quite a bit, i'd take a look at the fuel pump pickup and sending unit. Something may have come lose (check that inertia switch first though). You may want to take the inertia switch out of the loop anyway, I don't think they were intended to be jumped. I haven't had any problems with mine, but my jumps are probably a lot smoother than what you guys experience.

[Flw Sock]

God I'm stupid, I just remembered that my ;86 vw scirocco has a computer delete! The computer has been gone for a long time, and it's fuel injection!

[MrFishah]

You may want to take the inertia switch out of the loop anyway, I don't think they were intended to be jumped. I haven't had any problems with mine, but my jumps are probably a lot smoother than what you guys experience.

We bypassed the inertia switched in our race car, after it tripped at Road America (on the curbing) and we had to be towed in. Definitely would want to remove that on a rally car.

[Pu241]

The only way I know to run without the OEM ECU is to go Megasquirt.
Of course it is still a computer, but a much more flexible/programmable unit that will let you get maximum performance out of your engine.
It does come at a price, but not as bad as I had originally though.

[Advancedynamix]

God I'm stupid, I just remembered that my ;86 vw scirocco has a computer delete! The computer has been gone for a long time, and it's fuel injection!

That's K jet CIS injection, totally different ball game. Still better to Have a computer control that too though (primitive as it was the K jet Lambda made a big difference in drivability). Because it's a mechanical fuel injection system with continuous flow injectors, it doesn't require a computer to function, just a fuel pump, relay and battery. Putting a K jet on a Festiva would not be worth the trouble.

[Bert]

Boy, you lads are on a steep learning curve so early in this game. Would have pissed me off no end had that happened 8 years ago to me when I got the first one for $50.

I installed an aftermarket (GD noisy) fuel pump in a Festy last fall. Because of this I can tell you they prime just as the key is turned on. Pump is in the tank and under 2 lids under the back seat. With the first lid off you can pull off the hose to confirm that gas is being pumped (but hold a can underneath) to the engine. Apparently pump pressure is also a criterion to check. From there you can start looking at lines, filters, or even relays and switches. Touch wood I haven't had to learn much more than that, so far.

Now I did hear directly about the woes of a gentleman that ditched his EFI Festy not long after innumerable costly, lengthy and unsatisfactory garage visits with a continually lousy-running car.
Turned out a previously repaired gas tank, which had been lined with some kind of sealant that ultimately dissolved and gummed-up lines/filters/injectors etc etc, caused all the problems. A new gas tank (and thorough solvent cleaning) was the long term answer but by then the guy was entirely fed up and donated the car to me.

[WTFestiva]

Yeah, I've checked the inertia switch, all is well there, I haven't tested the fuel pump personally but 1 of my local mechanics, (used to be a dirt racer) said he thinks the fuel pump isn't working. Then I'm told by our sponsor to go take the car to this guy in St. Louis who is "apparently" a hell of a mechanic, he said he can eliminate the computer (as i stated earlier). Ugh this is turning out to be a hideous job of replacing a simple timing belt

[stonemaster]

Boy, you lads are on a steep learning curve so early in this game. Would have pissed me off no end had that happened 8 years ago to me when I got the first one for $50.

I installed an aftermarket (GD noisy) fuel pump in a Festy last fall. Because of this I can tell you they prime just as the key is turned on. Pump is in the tank and under 2 lids under the back seat. With the first lid off you can pull off the hose to confirm that gas is being pumped (but hold a can underneath) to the engine. Apparently pump pressure is also a criterion to check. From there you can start looking at lines, filters, or even relays and switches. Touch wood I haven't had to learn much more than that, so far.

Now I did hear directly about the woes of a gentleman that ditched his EFI Festy not long after innumerable costly, lengthy and unsatisfactory garage visits with a continually lousy-running car.
Turned out a previously repaired gas tank, which had been lined with some kind of sealant that ultimately dissolved and gummed-up lines/filters/injectors etc etc, caused all the problems. A new gas tank (and thorough solvent cleaning) was the long term answer but by then the guy was entirely fed up and donated the car to me.

I've seen that on motorcycles, some idiot lines a tank with some crap product ( usually Kreme) and totally screws the fuel system

[georgeb]

Boy, you lads are on a steep learning curve so early in this game. Would have pissed me off no end had that happened 8 years ago to me when I got the first one for $50.

I installed an aftermarket (GD noisy) fuel pump in a Festy last fall. Because of this I can tell you they prime just as the key is turned on. Pump is in the tank and under 2 lids under the back seat. With the first lid off you can pull off the hose to confirm that gas is being pumped (but hold a can underneath) to the engine. Apparently pump pressure is also a criterion to check. From there you can start looking at lines, filters, or even relays and switches. Touch wood I haven't had to learn much more than that, so far.

Now I did hear directly about the woes of a gentleman that ditched his EFI Festy not long after innumerable costly, lengthy and unsatisfactory garage visits with a continually lousy-running car.
Turned out a previously repaired gas tank, which had been lined with some kind of sealant that ultimately dissolved and gummed-up lines/filters/injectors etc etc, caused all the problems. A new gas tank (and thorough solvent cleaning) was the long term answer but by then the guy was entirely fed up and donated the car to me.

How long does the pump run when you turn the key on? Can you make a Youtube video of it?

[WTFestiva]

New (and unfortunate) update. I''m just going to take the thing to a good mechanic I trust, our other guy who diagnosed the fuel pump was right. The fuel pump was only getting 3V out of 12V, we were also not getting spark because he hooked the ignition coil up backwards and we believe it's burned up. Here's a few pictures of the engine bay and other shots.






You can notice the extra blue wire I took pictures of, this is the wire I initially wired up backwards that started screwing things up, looked it up and it was the negative to the starter motor So basically we got our "good" mechanic and he's going to...
1.) fix the issue of low power to the starter motor.
2.) Change out the ignition coil with another festiva parts car we have, I wish i could tell you what kind and what year it was, I have yet to see it yet myself but the B3 runs in it as well.
3.) basic tune job to get it running for October 27 in Perryville MO
4.) Change out/bypass the computer. I have no idea how or why since it a little out of my mechanical expertise, but he looked at the wiring diagrams and told me he can get it done.

Guess I just have to trust him. I let him know about the input on here, maybe he'll become a member and contribute, or come on here and ask questions, but until then, thanks guys!