90 festiva running rough, not wanting to accelerate correctly?

[omilton]

Just purchased a 90 festiva w almost 250,000 mi on it. A 5 speed. Drive it a couple times and it didn't want to run right, idled rough, would sound like it was missing? Would die occasionally if I was at a stop light and wouldn't want to accelerate when I shifted up.Ultimately it died on me two days in and it was diagnosed with needing a distibutor, which it got. Ran great for 2 weeks now back to idling like crap and not running right/accerlating correctly when I shift up, seems to be mostly the lower rpm stage right after I shift. It is a little sporadic also, doesn't always do it, and does it more after its warmed up. Coil problems? I'm not a mechanic but I'm trying to get some insight before I take it somewhere and deal with a bunch of parts changing.

[EXC55V]

not sure if your is carby or not but mine is, did the exact same issues yours did, turned out to be a vacuum hose leak into the maf sensor on the firewall.. the leak cause it to have difficulty holding revs. and it would just die

[DrMaxwellEdison]

your location would be helpful, someone in your area may be able to help you.

[Snail]

How much fuel is in it when it acts up? Don't trust the gauge, just go and put about 5 gallons in. If there is debris/water/nasty fuel in the tank it will act up when low on fuel.

[koRnhead]

VAF and or hole in your intake tube.

[omilton]

your location would be helpful, someone in your area may be able to help you.

I live in bloomington IL it would be awesome if anybody in the area had experience with these cars!

[omilton]

Does it regardless if I just filled it up or not

[scitzz]

Complete the tune up, disty cap, wires, and plugs. Do not use autozone wires if you go the cheap route, you will play heck keeping the coil wire on the coil. I like the make them yourself kits for 8 cylinders, 50 bucks gives you 2 sets of wires that are 8 or 8.5 mm instead of the wimpy 7mm one.

[omilton]

Complete the tune up, disty cap, wires, and plugs. Do not use autozone wires if you go the cheap route, you will play heck keeping the coil wire on the coil. I like the make them yourself kits for 8 cylinders, 50 bucks gives you 2 sets of wires that are 8 or 8.5 mm instead of the wimpy 7mm one.

What if plugs and wires are fairly new? Previous to me but probably with in last year

[db2u]

Age doesn't matter, especially if they are not high quality parts. If you are having a misfire, I would say plugs and wires is the first step. Changing the distributor prob let it run well for a bit because the wires got moved and allowed continuity to happen.

[drddan]

A 1990 is an EFI (In America) I would say vaf or tps. Check to make sure the vaf is clean and working freely. It has a door type flap that needs to move freely.

[FestYboy]

also, the coil can be rather easily upgraded if you find that the coil is arcing to the case. best way to test that is spritz the coil with water when it's idling smoothly and if the idle gets rough or you start hearing a snapping sound, the coil needs replaced.

[scitzz]

Age doesn't matter, especially if they are not high quality parts. If you are having a misfire, I would say plugs and wires is the first step. Changing the distributor prob let it run well for a bit because the wires got moved and allowed continuity to happen.

^That for starters. If the disty was worn, then the cap couldn't have been in great shape. Cheapo Depot wires, in my experience with 7mm ones, tend to last a year or so. Since playing with a partial tuneup did some good, I would have to think finishing the job has a high percentage chance of curing your problems.

One last addition, ignore FestYboy's recommendations at your own risk, he bailed my butt out of the fire earlier today, and many times in the past.

[TominMO]

No mention here of the O2 sensor. Could the computer just be in open loop?

[SiliconSoul]

Do you have a CEL? (Check engine light)