UPDATE:Engine shutting off, Ck eng lt code 17 ,erratic idle

[packrat427]

Well it started again today" 90 L 5 speed " and got worse the farther I drove from home .
5 th gear @ 55 mph it just like I turned the key off , I can press down on the gas pedal and nothing , then as it slows a little ,it's just like I turned the key back on ????????
Now also the check engine light started coming on today also , on our little trip tonight @ 55 steady in 5 th the light came on , if I push the go pedal just a little or let off the pedal the light go's right off ?????
If I leave the car in 4th at the same speed 55 with the R's up the car does not do the shut off thing , or if it at a higher rpm in 5th it does not seen to do it .

This car done this very same thing some time ago and finally quit it ???
and it really does it when the wife is in the car , I really do not think the Festiva likes her :lol: :lol:

[5.0zone]

I wonder if it could be the throttle position sensor.
Maybe its just worn in the one spot where 55 is for 5th.
Just a thought.

[mechanicaldj]

check the codes in the computer

check the 5th gear switch on the transaxle, the switch closest to the engine

[Guest]

check the plug to the vaf meter.. mine did this a few times..

[packrat427]

OK , I checked all the connectors on the top side yesterday early when it started , I will look again .
It just got worse last night , with the light coming on every few min at a steady speed .

[PaulLehr]

My car was doing that exact same thing for awhile but only when it was damp or humid outside. I reset the TPS and then sealed all the electrical connections I could find under the hood with RTV silicone and it hasn't come back since even with a week of straight rain here

[25Horseplay]

Check the 5th gear switch on the trans, somewhere recently there is a post on tranny switches. You can use it identify the switch.

[mechanicaldj]

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7485

[packrat427]

OK , I have a code 17 ,it says it is a feedback problem ??
When I bring up the idle to 1,500 to 1.800 rpm's in nuetral ,not driving , the engine like revs up and down or is dropping out ? like shutting off and on so to speak , but it is not loosing any spark when it does this , I have a good steady spark the whole time from the coil and to all cylinders .
I cleaned every plug in with a brass brush and electric contact spray , I did not really find anything there , I did take the air cleaner box off and looked inside the VAF, the vane moves very free .
When I tap on the IAC motor when the raised idle is erratic , I can make it worse like stumble even more ?
I also cleaned the TPS contacts and plug in .
I tried to run some cleaner thru it , but the IAC seems to work ,I can hear the idle raise when I restrict the vaccum .
The check engine light did come on today in town driving 40 mph in 3-or 4th , so It is not only 5 th .
And it still does the shut off thing , like you turn off the key and turn it back on like 2-3 seconds .
The only thing I can tell that is different ,and that was very annoying , Is when I let off the throttle to coast , It will actually decel now (fuel shut off) , and does not act or feel like I am tapping the gas pedal while I am slowing .
Sorry for the long post , but I am just trying to explain what it does and what I have done so far .

[packrat427]

This thing is driving me crazy , I am usually pretty good at finding problems ,but this one has me stumped .
Today , It bucked/jerked worse than any before ..
1st gear just as the clutch was out and I started to accel,it just lost all power and I thought it was not going to make it to the shoulder ??
But it never did quit to where I had to restart it .
It also done it as I was going into 2nd and 3rd as I was re-accelerating .
The whole time it does this , it still is like I am turning the ignition key off and on while I am accelerating , but today it was faster and more often .
If I am on the gas hard it does not seem to be as bad , driving it really easy ,it makes it worse ??

[muscle_Car1]

My GF's car has been doing the same thing alot this month.
It's died on her 2 this week. She waits 5 min it starts again.

Going to look at all the connections in the intake pipe. Seal them up. Reset the ECU. Maybe even clean the VAF.

My festy did bad in the rain but not anywhere this bad.

[miami man]

mine did that once but all it was was some corrosion in the tower of the distibuter cap. it was so bad that i had to take some needlenose plyers to get the brass fitting from the coil wire out.

[packrat427]

I realized the code 17, is 02 sensor not feedback ??
ie. too high/low fuel pressure

My fuel pump is running all the time when the key is on and motor not running ??

It never used to do that , I unplugged the relay and took it apart and the contacts were not stuck .
I replaced the coil assy and the power unit module and the resistor next to the coil.
It still does it .
With the 02 unplugged it still done it
When I tap on top of the IAC motor I can make the engine stumble even worse at the raised idle 1,500-1,800 rpm's
I have worked on this thing 6 hours today and that much yesterday too.
I know how you must have felt Paul with the problem you had .

[packrat427]

VIDEO

Here is a small portion of what it does 1,500 to 1,800 rpm's

http://s48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/packrat427/?action=view&current=runproblem.flv

[5.0zone]

OK, after seeing your video I'm going to say EGR Valve or Position sensor.

My '93 Mustang would run rough at times, everyone I talked to thought it was the IAC Valve. Replaced it, didn't help ($50). Took it to Ford and they replaced the EGR Valve and sensor ($300). The part was $150 but I wasn't going to continue to shotgun it.

If you have another Festiva to swap with that would be the way to go.

[EDIT]
OK, I did a little more digging in the Ford Shop manual
Looks like Code 17 has to do with the EGO - Exhaust Gas Oxygen Sensor.