1998 Ford Ka engine problems.

InvaderGIR · 26 Jan 2011 at 16:46

Don't worry, it's not mine.

I guess it's a 1.3 or something, horrible little things anyway.

My friend is having issues with the car, when it's started it'll idle fine but as soon as throttle is applied it splutters and dies. That's what I've been told, will go take a look in a bit though.

Any ideas as to what it could be? My googling has come back a bit useless really, MAF and TPS appear to cause issues, but the other way round...if you leave it to idle it'll stall, but if you throttle it stays running.

Best guess as the moment is dodgy fuel, but then why would it idle fine if that were the case?

InvaderGIR · 26 Jan 2011 at 18:14

Right, had a look at the hateful 1.3...seems to be some form of injector issue. When the throttle is blipped I can hear what sounds like air coming in the back ok no3.

It idles fine, which points away from ICV surely?

Appears to be being suffocated on air/under fueling to be honest. Sparks are all clean and dry.

InvaderGIR · 26 Jan 2011 at 18:38

Yeah, damn these old engines!

It sounds like it us drawing air into 3 but I can't see a hole in the plenum, but was getting dark and didn't want to strip the engine on the drive in the dark.

But it won't be going anywhere under its own power that's for sure, owner will probably get a garage to look at getting it sorted.

I'm not up on these cack Ford units so don't want to do it myself really.

InvaderGIR · 26 Jan 2011 at 20:53

I'll see what I can do, I guess clean with carb cleaner?

Not sure if I'll be able to work on it, but will see what I can do...would like to help it for cheap than at a garage.

InvaderGIR · 26 Jan 2011 at 23:44

I mean I can work on it, but if the owner decides to get a garage or another friend involved, I won't be working on it.

I've explained what the likely cause is though and said I'm happy to work on it if needed.

InvaderGIR · 27 Jan 2011 at 10:21

It does have a MAF as far as I'm aware.

Yeah, ICV seems an odd one to me for revving and such, although usually the MAF related problems on them are a case of it'll rev but not idle from what I've seen on google.

That'd make sense with the fuel pump, it was certainly my first thought but then I figured it'd just completely not work rather than partially work...but if as you say, they can run but on too low a PSI that seems about right to me.

I'm positive it's a fuelling too, or lack thereof due to a failure in the fuel supply system...that could explain the air sucking noise at the cylinder too...as it's drawing air rather than fuel?

Also...I was able to slowly (and I mean slowly) increase the revs to a couple of thousand, but if I then blipped the throttle it'd splutter again.

InvaderGIR · 27 Jan 2011 at 12:22

alexhull24 said:
In short there's a lot of issues with this engine and it can be a ballache if you only know so much (like me) and have to try and figure it out. You also have the problem whereby if you take it to a garage it'll cost a fair chunk more to sort out than doing it yourself, and the car must only be worth £500-£700 anyway.

That's the thing, I don't see it as being worth the time/effort/money to get a garage to look at it due to costs being silly and the car being old a cheap, just to find the exact fault, then parts, fitting etc. My friend will be getting someone else to look at it today/tomorrow and he knows a well priced garage and also knows cars...but I expect parts and labour would make it like a £150-£200 bill, whereas if I could identify the problem and get the parts it'd be parts cost only.

Cheers for all the help lads, will (well, have been) passing on the information.

InvaderGIR · 28 Jan 2011 at 15:33

Figured I'd update this.

It was the Air Flow Meter, unplugged it, revved freely, plugged back in, stalled. £25 later at a scrappies (does have a guarantee so if it fails got a come back) and it's sorted. Beats spending £60 on a cheap new one, or £160 on the expensive new one from ECP.

Also fixed the washer jets....as the pump had some how come out from the washer bottle...have to take so much of the car apart to get in there though. Still, it's sorted now...although the driver's door lock needs looking at too as it's playing up...might end up doing that too some time.