Electrical Issue

[nc_festiva]

The white festy is so close to being back on the road but its having a weird electrical issue. My guess is some kind of a voltage issue. It will be running then every will sporadically like go dim (like its no longer getting enough juice). My dash lights headlights and lights on the radio. Then if I turn it off when its like that it won't crank back up. The battery terminals are terrible and need to be replaced as they don't make a tight connection could this be the source of my problem? Gonna replace them today and find out.

The battery and alternator are new replaced by the PO but I guess I can't rule that out either.

Its almost like there is a short somewhere as sometimes it will jump right off and others even after being on cables for a while can't even get enough juice for the radio or dash lights or anything to come on.

[zoom zoom]

Those battery cable ends will cause really funny stuff to happen when they start going bad. Replace those first and see if you still have any issues. If it doesn't fix it look at the alternator next. Could just be a loose wire!!

[Bert]

As zoom zoom suggests pull off the battery cables and clean them thoroughly, and the battery posts. I've personally had starting issues twice this year (different vehicles) due to oxidizedconnections. There are neat little gizmos available with a male end and a female end wire brush on them. All you do is rotate the tool inside the cable connectors and on the battery terminals. In a pinch you can always use fine sandpaper.

[nc_festiva]

I just replaced the terminals as the old ones were shot and it jumped right off. Then when i turned on my headlights the car died. I noticed last night when i would mess with the wires that go into the drivers side headlight it would cause issues with the dimming and power and I thought it was just a concindence but now I know my issue has to be something to do with that headlight wiring just don't know what to do to fix it.

[nc_festiva]

I just took it for another test drive and the thing wouldn't accelerate past 25mph. When i got back and turned it off and then try to crank it right back nothing happened. No electricity at all. And it was smoking. Couldn't tell but it looked like it was coming from the alternator area of the engine bay.

[bravekozak]

What year is your festiva and is it EFI or carb. Older Festivas did not have headlamp relays. New ones did.
Remove your alternator. Take it in and have it tested.

[nc_festiva]

I'm done with my car. 900 is what it will take for me not to part it out other wise the thing is getting parted out. I can't handle the constant let down of trying to get this car back on the road. I have done so much work on this car and I have reached my breaking point someone can put a little more work into and it will be there.

[bravekozak]

I can't believe so many people are giving up on their cars lately. I had a about thirty small electrical wiring items to get my car working again. I asked questions, read wiring diagrams and studied EVTMs. It works great! No computer! Just like the good old days. Whenever I had a problem, I always opted for the simplest solution, even if it meant having to buy a new part. I looked at the entire rewiring/restoration job as a learning exercise. I know where every wire on my car goes and can pretty much identify every wire color and function. I am not afraid to take it on a long trip across the country. I cannot believe you guys are throwing in the towel when the solution is so close.

[tooldude]

Amen. Those who do not have the interest, the dedication, the patience, should not try to work on their own cars though. It only frustrates and confuses them. They should put on clean clothes and drive or tow it to a local shop where for hundreds of dollars for the small problems and thousands of dollars for the major problems, they can have it fixed with a minimum of trouble. That is, if they can find a competent, honest, fair shop that operates with a minimum of comebacks and can leave their car all day or all month; or heck, just take cabs everywhere, or buy online and get Fedex delivery, or hitchhike with friends and relatives and neighbors, or even get a bicycle, or (WHAT?) walk and pull their little cart with flags and reflectors, or quit, just quit, and move in with mom and dad, or hang out on the corner with a sign, maybe a sign that reads: "Need help fixing car, will work for diagnostics". But wait, wasn't that where it started? I quit, this is too confusing!