Daily has me scratching my head???

[bigbubba]

I have a 93 ford festiva(Stop laughing it gets great MPG's and its just a work car)Anyway about a month ago it started stumbling a little on takeoff. Now it's really bad acts like an older rig when the vacuum advance went out or maybe the accelerator pump on the carb,but it has niether of these.If i take it slow and ease into the throttle it picks up and runs fine but if i get into it quick it will stumble and pop. Anybody got an idea??Thinking i'll change the fuel filter and plugs this weekend and see if that helps

 

[99SVT]

yeah, I'd start with the fuel filter

 

[viper86]

if the fuel filter doesn't solve it, it may be the fuel pump.

 

[bigbubba]

The fuel pump is not that old but that does not mean it's not bad. Hope its just the filter as the wife is getting a new ride first of the year and i'll be taking her car for my work ride. Going to gut the festiva and use the drivetrain for a mini dune buggy i've been wanting to build(mini as in about the size of a razor or rhino)

 

[LEVE]

Take off the air filter and block of the air intake. If the car runs ... there's a vacuum leak. If it chokes and dies there's not a vacuum issue.

 

[istephen]

spark plugs. Probably never been changed in 200,000 miles.

 

[Graymills - Craig]

Have you lubricated the turboencabulator lately?

 

[bigbubba]

spark plugs. Probably never been changed in 200,000 miles.

Yeah the plugs might have 10,000 on them i'm good about maintenance just have not had time to trouble shoot this as we have been working 6-7 12 hr shifts at work for the last 12 or so weeks. On top of that i work nights have 2 kids and my wife just started a part time job so i gotta sleep sometime.

 

[rwhite692]

Have you lubricated the turboencabulator lately?

It could be the unilateral phase detractor. They are notorious for poor synch-up, with the Cardinal Grammeter.

 

[Groovy]

Beer in the gas tank causes stumbling.It has caused stumbling when too much gets in me.

Fuel then spark I had a similar sounding problem with a Volvo it was the MAF here is a link on how to clean that after you have tuned up wires, disrto cap, rotor, fuel filter it all needs to be done anyway so no $ lost this might help as well:

http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?563-How-to-Clean-MAF-(Mass-Air-Flow-sensor)

 

[DHS]

At night check to see if plug wires are leaking anywhere.

 

[nate379]

Maybe the hamster needs another carrot?

 

[Groovy]

Muffler bearings could be out.

 

[LawnDart79]

yeah, I'd start with the fuel filter

I 2nd this answer.

I had this exact problem show up one time on a friend's festiva (relatively same vintage if I remember correctly). It had a fuel filter that was restricted.

It's a good place to start anyway.

I remember it because he came and told me it was lacking power during acceleration and he wanted me to look at it. I laughed for 10 min or so and couldn't stop. Strangely enough, he was serious.

 

[Graymills - Craig]

It could be the unilateral phase detractor. They are notorious for poor synch-up, with the Cardinal Grammeter.

You forgot the spurving bearings.

 

[Speedbird]

As others said, replace the fuel filter. If it is still acting up,check the fuel pressure. There is also a filter on the pump. I also would run some seafoam trough it. I have been driving a 1988 Festiva for 20 years. Including a few parts cars, I have 9 Festivas.