Ford Fiesta engine troubles!

GrammarGirl

Hi,

I've got a R reg (97 I think?) Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.4 (Zetec engine) and it's stressing me out!

It's had a few problems in the last 6 months totaling a cost of over £500 (only paid £900 for the car, hence my reluctance to pay any more in repairs!) and now it's playing up again.

Anyway, when I'm still with the engine running, the engine sounds like it's revving itself up, then the rev counter will drop really low and the car will sound like it's about to stall before revving itself up again. It will then rev itself in little bursts, making the rev counter jump up and fall down. I am not touching the pedals at all and have the handbrake on.

A couple of times the engine has cut out completely while I am driving (this happens when I am slowing down with my clutch pressed in or if I'm coasting out of gear moving slowly).

Any ideas what this could be? I really don't want to take it to a garage and pay loads for repairs as I'm currently deciding if the car can handle my new, longer commute (including motorway driving) and might just trade it in for something more reliable.

Thanks for any help!

matthewking26

This happened to my 1991 ford escort and then again in a 1996 vauxhall vectra
In the escort it kept overrevving making me sound like a boy racer at traffic lights etc
In the vectra it kept dying when changing gear or approaching roundabouts, meaning a lightning fast turn key off and on in ignition whilst trying to handle power steering no longer working, that was a challenge!
It gradually got worse and happened more often, especially on hot days or when I'd been driving for more than an hour.
Anyway the (admittedly dodgy back street) garage I went to told me it was the "idle motor", responsible for keeping the revs in check when the pedals aren't being pressed or something of that nature. It wasn't worth the cost of replacing it for the value of the car so I ended up getting rid and replacing the car soon after. Can't remember the cost but it was £100+ I was quoted for one from a scrapyard.
I'm no car expert though so am prepared for this post to be shot down in flames!

GrammarGirl

Oh dear! That's the information I didn't want to hear! But thanks very much, it does seem to be getting progressively worse and I really don't want to shell out for the repairs if they'll be over £100.

New car it is then! :rolleyes:

swiftnick

GrammarGirl wrote: »

Anyway, when I'm still with the engine running, the engine sounds like it's revving itself up, then the rev counter will drop really low and the car will sound like it's about to stall before revving itself up again. It will then rev itself in little bursts, making the rev counter jump up and fall down. I am not touching the pedals at all and have the handbrake on.
quote]

Sounds very much like a throttle position switch problem.

IIRC they are 20 something quid from a dealer.

Nick

catwoman

Just had to scrap my P reg fiesta due to major engine problems!

goldspanners

i wouldnt be worrying to much about the scare mongering thats gone on here so far.
it sound like the throttle body is gunked up and needs cleaning or as one other person said the throttle position sensor is knackered. should be a cheap repair.

flang

sounds like idle control valve needs cleaning.

take valve off car, clean with carb cleaner, put back.
job done

kevin0410

flang wrote: »

sounds like idle control valve needs cleaning.

take valve off car, clean with carb cleaner, put back.
job done

I agree with this

hewhoisnotintheknow

clean all your sensors with wd40/ petrol / carb cleaner

takes a few minutes and is well worth it

GrammarGirl

Aha! So, it could be a quick fix? I'll get someone to have a look at it. Thanks for all your help!

jeannieblue

flang wrote: »

sounds like idle control valve needs cleaning.

take valve off car, clean with carb cleaner, put back.
job done

Idle control valve would be my bet too.