sputtering engine

[spoman]

My 1988 ford festiva is sputtering at about 2000 rpm. I can power through it. Once the engine warms up the sputtering stops. I'm thinking vacuum leak, but i'm not sure. Anyone have experience or tips? Thanks!

[Movin]

The vacuum diaphragms may be not be breaking the choke open when it is supposed to.

[spoman]

How would i check that?

[spoman]

Could it be caused by exhast leak?

[joeboomer999]

Could it be caused by exhast leak?

Not really

[Movin]

I doctored up an Alabi photo, I hope it is readable. This is what the carb resembles under the air filter. One of the possibilities based on your description could be the primary choke pull-off not working. You can check for vacuum at the nipple with the car running. You should see the actuator move in and out as you plug the hose in to the nipple and pull it back off. If the engine is cold the choke stat should have the choke plate shut. You should see the plate opening a bit, enough you could stick a pencil through the slit that opens. The area circled may be dirty, it needs cleaned with a can of carb and choke spray. This will need done about once a year for good operation. The 2nd pull opens a bit later after start like between a minute to two minutes. When this happens it will step down the idle if you started it but did nothing else, just get out and watch. The choke stat will heat enough from electric power to finish opening the choke plate until it is straight up and down.
These are the things changing from start up and sputtering until it clears up.
The secondary throttle for lots of power is a whole another big barrel that the vacuum pulls open when you floor it. It is locked out until that choke plate opens all the way.

[spoman]

Okay I will try and check that. I recently noticed that it only sputters when the engine is cold and under load, going up a hill for example.

[Movin]

Take the lid off the air filter then start the cold car. Get out and block the choke plate open with a screw driver then drive up the hill to see what happens. It may feel doggy but not sputter, it may fall on its face, what ever but try to see if the sputter is gone.