Ford Fiesta - engine cutting out when braking

antiskeptic

My wifes '96 1.3 petrol Fiesta is a great little runner generally, but has recently thrown up the following, potentially dangerous problem.

Sometimes (though by no means all the time) the engine cuts out when slowing down under braking to near stop - say approaching a traffic light or when about to turn a 90 degree corner. You don't detect it's happened - which has resulted in corners being taken with the power-assist to the steering disappearing mid-way around. Not good.

Is anyone familiar with this problem in the Fiesta and how to go about a fix?


Thanks..

LashingLady

This used to happen my 96 Fiesta when I had it. It used to happen when I was braking to slow down and also when I was just sitting at lights. I was told that the problem was with a part called the idle speed control valve, which needed to be cleaned out and I if I remember I think it had to be replaced.

the merchant

This is certainly your throttle position sensor. The 1.3 pushrod fiesta engine was rebound for it.

Cheap to buy and easy to fit so not the end of the world.

Esel

the merchant wrote: »

This is certainly your throttle position sensor. The 1.3 pushrod fiesta engine was renowned for it.

FYP to avoid confusion.

the merchant

esel wrote: »

FYP to avoid confusion.

Cheers, iPhone spell check + heineken = spell fail.

antiskeptic

the merchant wrote: »

This is certainly your throttle position sensor. The 1.3 pushrod fiesta engine was rebound for it.

Cheap to buy and easy to fit so not the end of the world.

Sheesh! Did they make pushrod engines as recently as that?

Max Power1

antiskeptic wrote: »

Sheesh! Did they make pushrod engines as recently as that?

even more recent! The early Ka's had the same pushrod engine as the 1.3 fiesta.

zilog_jones

I had the same problem, idle control valve needed cleaning. Very common problem.
@the merchant: Is this the same thing as the throttle position sensor?

And yeah, the 1.3 Endura-E OHV engine (used in Fiesta and Ka) was in production until 2002.

antiskeptic

I disconnected the battery for an hour (apparently this can reset glitches between the ECU and the Throttle Position Sensor). Whilst waiting, I took the opportunity to give the Idle Control Valve a good cleaning.

A 2 mile spin around the block (ie: 60 or so corners taken in rapid succession ) and she appears to be running fine again.

It appears there was a solution in there somewhere. Thanks to all for the assist.

*thumbs up*

zilog_jones

An easier way to test it (if it is the idle control valve) is to just rev it hard then quickly let go of the throttle - when I was having the problem I could make it cut out just from doing that.