rpikle, this thread's for YOU!!

[rpickle]

Arty, I swapped the coil out with my spare. Once it fired up, it ran nice and I thought, son-of-beeach, that was it! But, before that thought completely left, it died like the spark was cutoff or the fuel was shutoff. Seems to take longer to crank up after it stalls too.

Rick

[Tom]

rpickle, it's looking like it could possibly be your coil wire or one of the two smaller wires at the connection or an another place. Just a shot in the dark but worth a try.

[Tom]

FestYboy, you might have nailed it, we will know in the next few days or sooner. I found the solenoid in my book and then on the carb. Under removal and installation it said to disconnect it at it's electrical hookup. So the first thing I did before I did anything was start it up. It started easy and high idled so I knew it was going to run good. I warmed it up and drove it and it and ran good like it always does. When it is acting up it loses the high idle I have it set at and barely runs. That's how I knew it was going to run good. I knew too that this was going to be temporary and that at any given moment it would start acting up and barely run again. So I knew where I was starting at. So I turned it off and proceeded to start to take off the solenoid and found it to be a 17 wrench. I decided that that seeings the book said to disconnect it first that I would do that. Then after I found the round connection by the distributer and unhooked it. I got to thinking, gee, I wonder if disconnecting it might accomplish the same thing. I was going to have to go to town and buy a plug and some thread sealer which was fine but I thought hey, maybe I should try this now before I take the solenoid off. So I started it up and it immediatly went to a higher idle than it was, twice as high as I had set it so I idled it down. Then I drove it and it drove good, no problems, I tried running it up and letting off at about 50 miles a hour, still no problem. So at the moment thats where I left it. Solenoid in and disconnected at the connection. I will drive it a lot tomorrpow and see if it still does it's same old thing of going bad. The idle switch and the canister purge are on the same plug in. The idle switch I know is not a problem, the cannister purge I'm not so sure about. What do you think? I'm thinking it might be OK and that it might even be fixed. It's still a guess and a gamble at this point tho. Thanks

[FestYboy]

you unplugged the ROUND connector? because the fuel shutoff solenoid is on the square connector (whtie and black covered in grey tube) and it's located at the back of the carb. if you disconnected the round one, you unhooked the a/f control stepper motor... that's why your idle jumped.

[FestYboy]

Arty, I swapped the coil out with my spare. Once it fired up, it ran nice and I thought, son-of-beeach, that was it! But, before that thought completely left, it died like the spark was cutoff or the fuel was shutoff. Seems to take longer to crank up after it stalls too.

Rick

so it's actually running at this point? yes?!?!?! if you can get it running again, see what voltage drop you have on the positive side, you may need a better connection (and better coil). is there fuel in your filter and at the sight glass?

[Tom]

OK, I'll look at that again in the morning. You had me disconnect the square one once before for a test and it didn't solve the problem. Should I go ahead and try it for awhile with the round one off and then if it acts up try unplugging the square one and the round one at the same time? Maybe with the round one off it won't do it? I'm glad were getting somewhere Thanks.

[FestYboy]

square connector MUST be connected for car to run. i had you unplug it before for a condition test, that's all. i don't want you to unplug the square one anymore, just remove the cut-out solenoid and plug the hole. if at all possible, you want your round connector attached, but if that proves to be the cause (i doubt it) then you'll want to plug the two feed lines to that stepper motor.

[Tom]

Thank You.

[Tom]

Done.

[FestYboy]

any results???

[Tom]

Not yet. I have been flooded with a family emergency and the heat here but I'm going over to where the car is at shortly and plug the round one back in and find the right one and take it off and see what I need in the way of a plug and then give that a try. The parts stores are open tomorrow so I should be able to get the plug. Thanks very much for your help.

[Tom]

OK, the round plug is back together and the solenoid is ready to come off, I just need a tiny screwdriver to take the two wires out of the connection. No problem. Question-does just taking the two wires out of the connection accomplish the same thing as plugging it. I suppose not if it's stuck in the one position like closed sometimes. How about this? I have my other festiva sitting right there, would it be better to put the solenoid from that one on. It ran good when I parked it last year. It has a hole in a piston or a broken ring or a bad valve guide seal. But the fuel system is perfect. I could put that one on in place of the other one. or if you think do the plug first we can go that route.

[FestYboy]

let's try the plug first, that way you don't have to worry about undoing the wires just yet. BTW, just undoing the wires won't do anything if the solenoid is stuck in one position. besides, all this is going to cost you is $2 tops and you don't have to touch your known good system.

[Tom]

OK, I'll plug it today.

[Tom]

OK, the Festiva is up and running. I put insurance back on it and I am now using it as my daily driver with a tow rope behind the seat for if I need it. I went ahead and switched out sensors with the other festiva. They were sitting side by side and it came out pretty easy once I leaned how to do it. So everything is go at this point. I knock on wood and hope a little every time I get in it and try to stay locally as much as I can so that if I have to tow it home I'll be a little closer. If it acts up again the first thing I am going to do is try unplugging the round plug and see what that does. This is a pretty good shot were doing here. I don't know how often these sensors go bad but it sure looks like a bad one could cause this. Thanks a lot for your help. I'll keep you posted.