VAF iisue Question

[heavyMetal]

OK working on a 93 Festiva and purchased a used VAF from a forum memeber with very low miles on it,

It arrived Weds and I got a few minutes to install it last night, pulled the top of my air cleaner / VAF off and swapped the "new" VAF / air cleaner top.

When I started it it ran like crap lots of sputtering and couldn't get it to idle.

Swapped everything back and she ran fine, what did I do wrong?

I think I should have pulled the cable on the battery for a few minutes to clear the ECU but I'm not sure, looking for some advise from memebers that may have a tad more experience with these cars than I do.

[Team Lightning]

Check and make sure the door inside the vaf is free and moving when you tilt the unit.
Just curious why you changed it if it was working good before.

[Movin]

It is a good idea to clear the memory back to neutral then drive until the relearn is done. If something has worn or a backfire swelled the housing around the vane it may turn the check engine light on. It is also possible you could have a weak o2 or the coolant temp sensor out of spec a little and clearing the memory could cause worse running for a bit. It is still a good idea to clear the memory, just to know more about the sensors.

[heavyMetal]

Temp and o2 sensors changed in the last 3 weeks.

the VAF was advertised as having only 900 original miles on it, and is spotless as far in as I can see!

Since the VAF is a key part in both performance and milage I thought an extermely low mile VAF might help with just plain old wear and tear on the original one.

Tomorrow I will be changing the TPS as the car has been acting up and refusing to move and replace an exhaust gasket that just failed yesterday!

I'll clear the ECU when I do the TPS see how it runs then clear it again when I switch the VAF and see what happens.

[Movin]

That thickens the plot..multiple changes and new symptoms before clearing the memory!!

[heavyMetal]

Update:

Pulled Neg cable off the battery and installed new TPS following the Ford FSM instruction per feeler gage continuity readings.

Hooked everything back up and GF says it runs like a Ferrari, I need to check her meds, but it has gotten a whole new attitude!

Today I'll fix the exhuast gasket / leak and maybe re adjust the idle spped and then take hre to smog.

[F3BZ]

Whew! good, cause the next step was the bigger hammer!

[heavyMetal]

Ya this poor thin has been a challange since she "found" it a couple weeks ago to replace her last one, long story involving a drunk kid, LOL.

Runs very well and after fixing the exhaust leak, nothing wrong with old gasket so it was saved but of the three bolts holding the flange to the exhaust manifold: one was missing one was so loose I removed it with my fingers and the stud came out of the last one.

New gasket three lock washers and a new 10 1.5 threaded nut and this thing is the quietest it has ever been, old gasket went in a baggie for future use.


Think the GF has decided she doesn't want this one, no power steering so it may wind up on the block shortly with extra parts.