Doesn't want to move

[Tim]

About 5 minutes ago I had my first major problem ever with the Festiva. It doesn't feel like moving. I have to rev to about 4000 RPMS and let up the clutch slowly or the engine will lurch anfd die. Once I do get moving the car lurches back and forth like I'm not giving it enough gas.

I was able to drive it home today, which is a rainy day. and did notice an extra lurch or two but thought nothing of it until a few minutes ago when I tried to back down the driveway and stalled out.

HELP!


Regards,

Tim

[darkdan]

You sure you're in first?

Check the shift cables. Maybe one broke.

[Tim]

Pretty sure I'm in 1st. I'll check the cables and see what happens.

Thanks!

[Tim]

Cables are fine. I have the same problem in reverse. Any ideas?

Regards,

Tim

[Guest]

wet distributor? I have noticed this on virtualy every EFI model.. don't know about the carb model... a little moister in the disty cap and it will sputter lurch etc etc.. Try this.. pull the cap off wd-40 it and put it back on.. see if that does the trick...

[Tim]

OK. Worth a shot.


Thanks!

Tim

[Tim]

Also, it lopes when idling and if I put my foot on the gas and try to hold it at, say 2000 rpms, it dies down and then stalls out.


Regards,


Tim

[batstiva]

Sounds wet to me too, Tim. New cap, and rotor button just cost me less than 30 bucks. Might be worth a try. Good Luck!

[mattswabb]

I agree. Check for wetness. Remove the cap and make sure it is dry. If the cap is old then change it and the button. Check the wires. Best way to check is to grab ahold of them while its running and if it feels like 40,000 volts going thru you then they are bad . Just kidding. Look for cracks or dry rot. On my 1st festiva I remember looking at them at night when they were damp and seeing the sparks jumping all over the place. Also check the plugs.

matt

[batstiva]

See Matt, you were joking, but that's actually how I figured out which of my plug wires was bad. But then, I like pain. :twisted:

[Tim]

Distributor cap was fine. However, I noticed a bright blue spark going from the ignition coil to the terminal that connects to the tachometer. There's no breaks in the rubber cap yet the spark goes right through.

According to the previous owner, the car doesn't like to start on wet days and this is normal. Also, she said the thing eats spark plug wires. I did notice some green oxidation on the terminal of the wire going to the ignition coil.


Regards,

Tim

[batstiva]

You've got a shorted wire, change 'em! My old S10 truck did the same thing in a driving rain. Only difference was, my truck just flat out would not start until it dried. And then I had to make sure that the short couldn't contact any metal. If it were me, while I'm in there, I'd change the cap and button anyway. :wink:

[juz_cruzin]

check the clutch as well