89'Festiva cuts out under load, fixed once now broke again?

[yogaslackers]

Festiva cuts out under load

I have an 1989 Festiva with a carbureted engine and manual tranny. 215,000 miles 100,000 on the rebuilt engine and 50,000 on the new tranny


3 weeks ago the car started to cut out when a load was placed on the engine or if I floored it in any gear but first.

This happened 10 mins after revving it up to power down a muddy road. I came to a stop light and it died. I restarted it and limped it home as it would die when ever I would stop or if I gave it too much gas. At home I found the #4 wire burnt up on the inside.

Since then,
I replaced all wires and plugs good spark in all cylinders:
Car idles great.
Car starts fine.
Car still cuts out while climbing small hills or when gas pedal is floored
Car will climb in speed if I find the “sweet spot” not to hard not to soft.
Car will not go in 5th gear no matter how gentle I am.

Then I replaced the fuel filter
Same problems

Then replaced the Catalytic converter
Same problems


Then took to a shop
They tested fuel 5.5lbs
Tested the timing good belt and right on
Tested vacuum don’t remember the # but they said it was good.
The told me it was a Carb problem

Then I rebuilt the Carb
Same problem

Then I took out the emergency shut off in the carb. The piece that the black wire goes to. Vacuum activated switch, a C ring holds a stopper in place well any way I took that out.

Still the same problem, cuts out when floored in 3rd gear, cuts out when going up hill in 3-5th, if in the sweet spot on level ground I can go in 4th, will not drive unless down hill in 5th.

The last thing I have checked it the tank pick up, which is clean, when the gas tank is pressured gas streams out of the petcock.

Please help I am stranded in Missoula, MT for 3 weeks I was suppose to be back in class 1000 miles from here 4 weeks ago. Any Ideas please call 2187918421 or email yogaslackers@gmail.com

Thank you for your time.

Sam Salwei
Proud owner the Peace, Love and Be-Happy Car for the last 4 years, it has provided me with 121,000 out of its 215,000 mile life so far.

https://www.yogaslackers.com

[Bowls]

sounds like u might not be getting enough oxygen to the cylinders, that could be why it stalls when u floor it..
maybe try a new air filter. Perhaps depending on if its very cold where u are, you are using oil that is getting too thick.
i'll leave it to the mods.. they know more than i.

[yogaslackers]

thanks for the quick reply could it be the o2 sensor? I will try the Air filter, next.

Sam

[yogaslackers]

Is there A pic of the correct Vacuum config. to the air cleaner? I have seen 2 diff. ways. Thanks

[Bowls]

just remove the air filter, see if it starts that way, if it don't, the filter isn't the problem. It could be the o2 sensor i guess, i don't know how to go about testing it.

Try reving it in neutral, slowly add more gas to the accelerator till it gets high revs. see how that goes, then wait for the revs to get right down, floor it for a quick second, see if it stalls. that'll tell us whether the problem is in the engine or elsewhere.

[yogaslackers]

the car will Idle all day long, I can Drive around town just fine. The problam is on the HwY it cuts out when there is any load on the engine or when flored in 3rd 4th or 5th. I articulated the problam above. Thank you for all your input. I have addressed everything but air so I am going to change the filter and sensor.

[Bowls]

its your transmission. Thats why it cuts out in other gears.
Drain your transmission fluid, feel through it and see if there are tiny metal shards, thats a bad sign. if its an automatic, dab a bit of the oil on your tongue, see if it tastes burnt, thats also bad. Also if your in a cold climate, and are using 5w30 transmission fluid, change it to 10w30. if none of these are your problems. i'd almost guarantee its your transmission. i wouldn't try to go a thousand miles on it if i were you.

[yogaslackers]

it is not the tranny, the engine is CUTING out! Thanks for your reply, I was hoping someone else had a similar problem as 3 shops and $450 later I still have the same problem. the tranny is new too.

IT is either getting to much fuel or air. Or not enough spark. It drops a cylinder under load. It might be points how do you check the ignition system?

[Bowls]

so it basicly just loses power until it dies off, the crank shaft doesn't just stop? by drops a cylinder, do u mean it misses?

[yogaslackers]

It is hard to tell but it acts like it misses and the other 3 pick it up and keep it going. If I floor it in 5th at 75 it will slowly die it never actual fires just acts like you are push starting it. if i down shift and get the throttle in the right spot it will pick back up again.

[Bowls]

also you should either replace your sparkplugs, or take them out and scrape the gunk off them. unless you already have, 10 dollars to do it.

[yogaslackers]

Did it brand new plugs wires replacing cap and rotor today. Car will rev to red line in neutral, 1st, 2nd: and 3rd and 4th if you are lucky. Re read original post and help me make it clearer.

[Bowls]

haha sorry man, i can't read the first post every time i come back to the topic, no time for it, i forget stuff fast.
Somone drop an egg in your gas tank? yes im serious an EGG.
maybe the pushrod in your fuel pump or fuel pump is gone?
Check over every hose ever nozzle w/e make sure nothing is clogged.

[yogaslackers]

ok starts hard when cold. lots of hesitation and wants to die until warmed up, after warmed up idels fine

[yogaslackers]

Gas tank Has a lock on it.