Need help

[Millette]

Well I just got a 1990 Ford Festiva and I'm having some issues, starts up great and runs smooth but once I get on the road and it heats up it starts missing and barely can hit the gas pedal, and the heater doesn't blow any hot air. And the car gets really over heated.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[dalebwilson]

Sounds like an air pocket in the coolant system or a blown head gasket.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Millette]

Oh great haha

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[firebush357]

The Heater does not blow hot air through the main vents... it will only blow hot air to the floor or defrosters.

As for the miss firing I have some questions:
How long have you had the car?
Have you changed the fuel filter?
Have you changed the spark plugs?
Have you changed the plug wires?
Are there any vacuum leaks?
Is your Alternator putting out around 14volts?
Is the Car overheating?
Is there water in the oil?

Lets start there and then we have a better chance of helping out.

[Millette]

Ive had the car for a week, and I've changed the oil, fuel filter, plugs, wires. And haven't found any vaccum leaks yet

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[firebush357]

Have you ran a fresh tank of Gas through it yet? Old gas can cause that specially with Ethanol.

I am assuming since it is a 1990 that it is is an EFI engine correct?
Is the check engine light on?

Check to make sure your Ground cable from your battery to your frame is good with no corrosion.
Check to make sure your Air Flow Meter flapper thingy can move freely all the way.
Check the condition of your Distributor Cap and Rotor.
Check Compression if you are capable.
TPS might be bad but I don't know much about that.
Check to make sure someone hasn't messed with the Timing.
Check to make sure there is no holes in your intake tube that would allow unmetered air into your intake.

[Millette]

Check engine light comes and goes, has older gas in it, so I'll put new gas in it. EFI yes, and I'll check everything else and get back to you

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[firebush357]

My First guess would be the old gas. Don't expect it to get instantly better just by adding fresh gas either, it might take a while get all of the old crappy stuff out.

[Millette]

And I went to drive it to my shop and the belt shredded. Do you know where I can find a belt diagram at?

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[firebush357]

Here is a Diagram

[william]

Belts pretty self-explanatory they only run the alternator and the water pump.
As for old Gas if it has the original tank it will have a plug on the drivers side under the tank. Pull that and get the old gas out. Dose the gauge show its over heating?
Pull the radiator cap and make sure it's full.
Start it with the cap off and look for bubbles.

[Millette]

Well just got the new belts on, and I took the air intake box off to replace them and came to see there are cracks all over and can't even close the box all the way

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[Millette]

Well here's an update! Went for a drive and doesn't over heat now! But does blow hot air out of the defroster and feet only now. And after a couple miles it's starts acting up, still can't give it gas and runs crappy, so I will get the old gas out and put new gas in and try that

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[firebush357]

Are the cracks below the filter or above? There are alot of us that modify the bottom of the intake box to be more open for a better sound by drilling holes and stuff like that. I cut the entire bottom side of my Intake box off so it is basically just a filter.

The belt being shredded was probably what caused it to overheat because the Water pump wasn't turning properly.

[Millette]

Just kind of all over haha. Just need to figure out once you get going why it just to run crappy and the heating issue

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk