Won't start now

[chapad]

I've owned my 1988 Festiva since this past spring and have been enjoying ever since, until last week. On my way home from work cruising along in 5th gear she started to lose power, I down shifted to 4th and it still continued to go down. Finally pulled over and figured out my only way to keep going was to partially engage the clutch and keep the RPM's up to 4 grand in 3rd gear. It died on me twice in a 20 mile commute but I managed to make it home. Ever since it turns over just fine and doesn't quite get to the firing stage. Need some assistance on what to do and where to look next. Thank you in advance.

[WmWatt]

Inspect all the vacuum hoses not leaking (firmly connected and not cracked).
Verify carburettor getting fuel. Possible problems with dirt (tank, filtre) or collapsed rubber hose just before filtre.
Ensure carburetor interior and exterior linkages clean (spray can of carb cleaner).
Check for clean air flow (filtre, heat valve free to open).
Check for spark. Ignition control module in distributor can fail but sysmptoms usually random stalling before complete failure.

[TominMO]

Pull the wire that goes from the coil to the disty. Look inside the coil where the wire fits into it. You may find corrosion there. You can clean it up with a piece of sandpaper rolled up to fit. Or get another coil at the JY. People are always replacing their disty caps and rotors, but the coil never gets replaced, so corrosion just keeps building in there.

And welcome to the forum BTW!

[FestYboy]

The Accel super sport coil is a good replacement for the 28 year old factory coil...

[sc72]

Where in Iowa are you.

[Advancedynamix]

Sounds like a fuel pump crapping out. Definitely check for fuel getting to the carb.

[FestYboy]

Btw I agree with Charlie in that it's a fuel issue, but would insist that the fuel line that runs between the firewall and crossmember be inspected for collapse before condemning the fuel pump.

[chapad]

Ollie

[chapad]

In regards with the fuel pump, I did change the fuel filter, it is clear plastic and it does not seem to be running full. So, should the fuel filter be full ? If not why and if so, does that sound more like a pump problem?
Thanks

[FestYboy]

It's not uncommon or unusual for the filter to have an air pocket in it, bit it should be less than 1/4 the size of the window. There's also a sight glass on the passenger side of the carb right above the bowl drain plug.

[WmWatt]

Take the air cleaner off and look for a squirt of gas when you press the gas pedal, or better pull on the accelerator linkage in the engine compartment.