Please help! Very Fast Idle

[the5tolls]

Hi Guys, I am new to Festivas, car was running like a champ on Sunday drove about a 150 miles no problems. Monday drove about twenty minutes and idle starting climbing, I am guessing it is up around 2500 to 3000 rpm's all the time. Had a professional mechanic look at carb and he says everything is working good. Looked for vacuum leak, but with the fifty vacuum hoses around that carb, can not find one. I am not that good of a mechanic, but the guy I took it to is pretty sharp and after a day and a half he threw his hands up in the air and told me to take it home. If anyone could help, I would be very greatful! Thanks, Bill from Wisconsin

[william]

try spraying break clean on the hoses and around the intake if there is a vacuum leak the idle will fall when it sucks up the break clean

[Festy46]

The secondary side of the carb is probably not closing completely. Look where the throttle cable connects to the carb. If you see that shaft where the cable connects, then look at the linkage on the side of the carb and locate the other (secondary side) shaft. Turn that linkage to try to make the secondary side close. If the engine slows down then get some carb cleaner and see if you can get the shaft to loosen up if it is sticking.

[bravekozak]

If the professional mechanic throws up his hands, that means you need an Escort carb swap. Only one hose needed instead of fifty.

[the5tolls]

I should have said it is a 89 with a carb, we tried spraying all around the hoses and around the carb and the idle did not change. We did spray the heck out of the carb, as far as the secondary shaft, I am not sure where to find it. I know where the linkage is on the drivers side, we made sure that it was being pulled all the way back. Where would I find the secondary shaft from the location of the linkage? Right where it hooks up on the drivers side? Thanks a million, like I said I am not a great mechanic! My mother in law drove the car for twelve years and it started having a laundry list of problems so I inherited it, was going to give to my son in college, but he could not get use to a manual trans., these kids now days! So I am trying to make a work car out of it, new tires, exhaust, rear struts and brakes, rear right spindle, front left cv boot and axle, new battery, etc. Unfortunately it is quite rusty (Wisconsin). I sure do like the fuel mileage when running! As far as a carb swap, that is a possibility, but kind of a last resort if I can't figure out what I have. Thanks again!!!!! Bill

[bravekozak]

Ditch the feedback carb. Real carbs don't need computers. It is not worth writing about, talking, diagnosing, or thinking about. You will get an instant throttle response from the Escort carb. No vacuum delay. More power. Bye, bye snakepit. Good luck.

[the5tolls]

If I did try and switch to the Escort carb, what would I do with the fifty vacuum hoses? Just rip them all out?

[bravekozak]

You bet. Use the search engine to find pictures of other members carb swaps. Use double quotes for phrases.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?30959-New-carb

[FestYboy]

location? possible local member available to help....

[tooldude]

The problem may be a leaking vacuum diaphram on the distributor which will connect the ported vacuum outlet on the carburetor with manifold vacuum and also affects the distributor advance. Then there will still be a timing advance issue even if the carb is changed.

[1chrisapple]

I vote escort carb to.for 70 to get aj adapter from rocketman and 60 for reman carb on ebay.y bother with it. Some will say weber carb but idk that its any better than escort carb.

[Festy46]

Here's a picture to help you find the secondary shaft on the carb. That little rod moves toward the diaphram that it is connected to so you get more power which means more gas is being added to the motor increasing your idle rpms. You need to visualize that rod moving away from the diaphram and then you rotate the secondary shaft that the rod is connected to in that direction with the engine running. If that is your high idle problem, it should slow down. Ignore the black marking and printing. That was for another member.

[bravekozak]

Here's a pic of my twin carb setup. If you are interested, I have one more set available. You will have to install an electric fuel pump, because there is no room for the stock fuel pump.

[the5tolls]

I live in a very small village in Wisconsin called Brandon, it is approximately half way between Milwaukee and Green Bay and slightly west.

[the5tolls]

I sure do appreciate the advice, I really hate to sound stupid, but here I go: The green arrow is pointing to the real small silver shaft is that what is connected to the secondary shaft? When you give it gas that shaft would move to the left or towards front of car? Now when the shaft is moved towards firewall it should rotate the secondary shaft? Do I just grab the little silver shaft with a needle nose and push it left to right, or is there more to this process? I know I sound like I don't have a clue, which is pretty accurate! Thanks for all the help!