Engine missing/hesitating....

[muleskinner]

Ok, I have talked with him and he has eliminated the 02 sensor as being the possible problem. The problem he is having with it now is no power when he needs it. Like going up hills. Remember, he has replaced all the seals and gaskets in the engine and replaced the timing belt, cleaned out the oil pan & engine, also painted the engine really nice. He is just having a power issue. runs good at normal speeds, but when going up hills it loses power.
Any suggestions?

I told him to get on this forum and ask questions but he doesn't have easy access to a computer.

[dalebwilson]

Forgive me if this has already been asked but has he checked compression?


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[harpon]

One of the only real times the old 88 ran sour it was the plug wires.

You mentioned they are new, but that doesn't mean they are free of defect-

probably not the problem, but if you can look under the hood at night where its very dark, you can see if there is any arcing- if there's no little ticking sounds, it's probably something else.

the "fussyble links" on the drivers side under the hood are often a weak link on these cars and known to have contact problems if not modified already

It still sounds more electrical in nature to me, but could be fuel-

is the catalytic converter still there or jammed up- maybe chocking in it's own exhaust? I don't like cats or 02 sensors simply because I don't think they do much more than sell new parts.

If you want to bypass the 02, do you have to connect the wire loops or simply cut it off? anyone know? I'm guessing you have to close the loop?????

no expert, but the 02 thing sounds plausible.

I might try another MAF vane otherwise too.

[Movin]

Ok, I have talked with him and he has eliminated the 02 sensor as being the possible problem. The problem he is having with it now is no power when he needs it. Like going up hills. Remember, he has replaced all the seals and gaskets in the engine and replaced the timing belt, cleaned out the oil pan & engine, also painted the engine really nice. He is just having a power issue. runs good at normal speeds, but when going up hills it loses power.
Any suggestions?

I told him to get on this forum and ask questions but he doesn't have easy access to a computer.

Does the problem still go away when he shuts it off and restarts it ? If it does that gives a direction to proceed with out a lot of guessing or diagnostics. Of course we may miss out on several pages of fun lol.

[muleskinner]

Does the problem still go away when he shuts it off and restarts it ? If it does that gives a direction to proceed with out a lot of guessing or diagnostics. Of course we may miss out on several pages of fun lol.

No, it does it all the time now. He just told me today it's even worse now. He lives on top of a hill and had to tow the car up the hill.

Remember this is a 92' 5 speed, he just replaced all the seals and gaskets, cleaned the inside of the engine, new spark plugs, wires, & distributor, cleaned the gas tank, & has a clean filter.

I'm stumped. The only thing I can think of is air or vacuum, but that has all been checked.

[william]

Didn't read through all of this bit hows the timing? You said he replaced the belt and disty.

[Movin]

It sounds like a flow problem, it starts easy, idles well but hesitates without the roughness associated with an ignition problem.

Flow problem like fuel pressure falling to nothing. Fuel flow is not there and gets worse the more you need it. If pressure is low it starts at the pump (it could be bad ) a fuel line could be pinched or the regulator could be bad. Screens inside injectors could be plugged.

Flow problem like air flow. Air tube not tight engine torques, too much unmetered air enters. Or, more air is demanded and racing tape holding tube together collapses and cuts air off. Bad ring seal can blow engine oil into air tube, wet down air filter with oil and restrict air flow.

Exhaust flow..cat plugging up or smashed pipe. A Cat plugging can act like a sock or fuel filter plugging. Shut it off, stuff falls away and you can go again.

There are a lot of other possibilities but understanding that you have checked or replaced the likely ones such as timing belt marks ,checking these flow possibilities is a good place to continue.

Unbolt the cat inlet and set it up where you can safely test drive it with the header pipe uncorked.

[WmWatt]

Is there a vacuum gauge availabe? I got mine at a gargae sale but they're not expensive new, $15? There is a "sticky" (fixed thread) at the top of this forum which contains a guide to interpreting the vacuum reading.

There is also something in the troubleshooting section of the Haynes manual about loss of power. I'm at the public library now so don't have access to my copy.

[Movin]

I have not seen any garage sales this time of year, did see some ones garage blowing out into the street ! Here is the only one I found on craigs list, it is just like our snap-on set for pressure. That was craigs list for Cincinnati.

https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/tls/4784238848.html

[fujioko]

You mention the timing belt was recently replaced. Its possible the timing is a tooth off.... it happens a lot. If the cam timing is off a tooth, the problem also will effect the ignition timing. Perhaps double check the timing belt alignment and go ahead and set the ignition timing to spec.

[muleskinner]

Well, car is running fine now. It was the fuel pump. He replaced it with a new one. BUT, after replacing all the gaskets and seals, the crank seal is leaking already!! Why would that happen??!!

He said to me, he is so fed up with the Festy now, he is going to sell it after he replaces the crank seal again! He has been working on it more than driving it and he is just fed up with the car. I feel bad because I talked him into buying a Festiva & now he just thinks they are a piece of crap!

[rickbz28]

Why would that happen??
Maybe a groove wore in crank snout? Seal installed backwards? Defective new seal?

[Movin]

Groove with a little extra crank end play. They make a sleeve for the crank. But jeepers, what a light weight, he just needs to go buy a brand new one with a warranty I guess, for some of us this is relaxing , entertaining and enjoyable.

[muleskinner]

Groove with a little extra crank end play. They make a sleeve for the crank. But jeepers, what a light weight, he just needs to go buy a brand new one with a warranty I guess, for some of us this is relaxing , entertaining and enjoyable.

Where would he get this sleeve at??

[TominMO]

Another thing to check....this just happened to me today. Car hesitated, died, could restart it. Repeat. Eventually it wouldn't restart. Pulled the Main and EFI fuses in the engine bay, plugged them back in, restarted fine and made it all the way home. Gonna go out now and properly clean them with brake cleaner and Q-tips.