Automotive Forums  Where Car Enthusiasts Go to Discuss Cars Online

1995 Ford Aspire, manual transmission, with 93k miles

No problems at all in dry conditions. In wet conditions the engine will sometimes die while idling, and power is always almost completely lost for a few seconds when accelerating, especially going into 2nd and 3rd gears, but then it's fine. Ideas?

Thanks,
Jason  

thats might be a hard one...

i would like to know if you can get the car scanned for codes... sometimes a sensor drop out will set a code...

that car may be an EEC4.. possibly a EEC5.. or a MECS as it is a japanese product design .. probably mostly mazda..

do you have a digital volt meter???   if so .. take 2 minutes.. start with a voltage drop test on the ground side...

set your volt meter to 20 volts DC....   with the engine running.. and the head lights on.. test between the battery negative post and the body...  then between the negative post and the engine ...  then between the engine and the body..

if any readings are higher than 0.03 volts.. you have a ground problem..    remember you are measuring between the grounds of the various parts.. bad ground.. weird problems..



if that checks good... i would then disconnect the various connectors for the other sensors on the motor.. examine them for green  corrosion..   check for moisture .. reconnect them..    you might also want to examine the connector at the ecm..

some connector terminals leave a lot to be desired.. as for spring tension ... sometimes... they just get loose... and act up...

the wet or moisture thing can effect some connectors.. and some sensors if they are cracked.. broken.. or have a loose connector..