What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
1999 1.3 Loss of Power - Flossy
I would be very grateful if anyone could help with my problem. I have had my Kai Pride from new (1999) and she has always run immaculately until the last couple of months. I have replaced the battery and then had the timing belt replaced and since then I have had problems. The trouble is that the car will seem to be driving perfectly ok and then suddenly loses power, to such an extent that I have to pull over on the road and stop. I go down the gears but the engine just continues to lose power until I have to pull over. However, it seems that once I switch the ignition off for a very short while and then re-start the car will then run ok again. I have had it into the local garage and they have changed the plugs, checked the distributor etc but, as the fault is so intermitent, they have been unable to solve the problem. I really don't want to lose my little car but, unless we can identity the problem and get it fixed, I simply can't use it for work as I am nervous that it will let me down. Any help would be so gratefully received. Thanks in advance.
1999 1.3 Loss of Power - DP
I had identical circumstances on a much older car which turned out to be a coil fault. There was apparently a microscopic break in the windings that was opening up as the coil got hot, and then closing again as it cooled.

A good diagnostic tool for this is a strobe light. When it stops, connect the strobe to one of the HT leads and see if it flashes when you crank the engine.

I am of course assuming this car has HT leads!

Cheers
DP
1999 1.3 Loss of Power - bathtub tom
This sounds like an ignition module fault.
There's an excellent american site:www.fordfestiva.com
Try a search on it. They call Kia Prides Ford Festivas!
1999 1.3 Loss of Power - Flossy
Many thanks to both DP and Bathub Tom for their help. DP - yes, the car does have HT leads!! We have spoken to the garage who will investigate and see if this could be the problem. Bathub - I have checked out the site which you recommended and have located a similar problem on the forum. They seem to be indicating either coil or ignition module probs so getting these both checked. Thanks again for your help.
1999 1.3 Loss of Power - Flossy
At last my little Kia Pride is back on the road and running superbly! It has been a long haul to identify the problem but, just in case it may be of any help to anyone else on the forum, the problem was a vacuum pipe/hose. There was a small split, which ultimately became a much bigger one and now that this has been replaced she (and I) and happy again. A whole host of items had been checked and/or replaced including distributor, ignition, plugs etc etc but, as we thought all along, it was a small item which caused all the probs but difficult to identify. Hope this may be of help to anyone with a similar problem.
1999 1.3 Loss of Power - bathtub tom
Congratulations on getting it back.

There's not many of us still running these (we may be the only two on this forum).

Many thanks for reporting back.
1999 1.3 Loss of Power - lroyb

hi

i'm having this exact problem on my kia pride, by any chance can you remember where about the pipe that was damaged was. i've looked, but can't seem to find any damaged pipes.

also this only happens when my fuel level isn't full.

ps, sorry for replying to a years old post

1999 1.3 Loss of Power - bathtub tom

>>this only happens when my fuel level isn't full.

I'd be checking the tank's able to breathe. Try removing the fuel cap to see if that stops the problem.

I'd also suspect it's sucking air. Put a length of clear pipe in the fuel line to see if there's any bubbles.

One way to check for split pipes is to spray something like WD40 on them while the engine's running. If you get a change of engine note then you've found the problem area.

PS. Mine's still in daily use!

1999 1.3 Loss of Power - lroyb

thanks for your reply.

ive looked at the pipes and found one to be split. i've got hold of a replacement, just not fitted it yet.

i'll try what you have suggested, and let you know

thanks