Ford Fiesta (1995 - 1999) - 1998 1.25 Fast Idle and not reving over 4000 rpm

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Sat 29 Nov 2008 18:20
1998 1.25 Fast Idle and not reving over 4000 rpm - dover1234
Hi

Just purchased a small runabout for my Wife and the car is a Ford Fiesta 1.25 l zetec automatic R reg, the car runs fine except, when at a standstill you put it into Drive it sometimes cuts out and the idle appears to be fast also at a standstill if you rev the engine in Park or Neutral the revs appear to be limited and do not go past 4000rpm, any ideas, electrical or a gearbox problem, due to this if you press the accelerator to the flooor in drive there is no kick down, although its the newer gearbox version of the CVT.

Any ideas would be appreciated
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Sat 29 Nov 2008 19:04
1998 1.25 Fast Idle and not reving over 4000 rpm - elekie&a/c doctor
Your comments about this car are fairly characteristic of this model.The Cvt box usually does not perform well in cold weather due to cold transmission oil.The 4k limit on revs when stationary is normal for most late auto cars and should rev higher once on the move and at operating temp.hth
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Sun 30 Nov 2008 01:21
1998 1.25 Fast Idle and not reving over 4000 rpm - Woodspeed
This is a great little car, my partner had, and I enjoyed driving it.

In neutral or park, the idle will not go past 4000. Normal.

However, if you put in drive and it stalls you have an issue starting with the auto box, which is caught in time will cost about £200. A good gearbox specialist knows these boxes (some will slag em) a GOOD guy knows how to repair, put in synthetic fluid, which needs changing every 30k.

If you leave it, putting it into Drive will eventually result in it trying to pull itself down the road, even against the brakes. Then a lot of damage is done, and although a repair is effective, it is never back to 100%.

Had a prob like this at 40k, Ford dealer did not want to know and said new box £1500. Spent £200 and still running at 90k+ Not a lot else other than niggles has gone wrong, and it is a great long disance cruiser.

2 known specialists are in Epson and Weymouth, but phone around. Don't let them slag this box off. A few friends have bought on my reccomendation, had the problem at around 36-40k and got it fixed. The fluid MUST be changed at around 30k, and I don't think a lot of dealers do this which breaks it down and sludge builds up in the control valves.

Good luck
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Sun 30 Nov 2008 07:44
1998 1.25 Fast Idle and not reving over 4000 rpm - jc2
As I have said elsewhere,it's a good box but needs to be properly set-up and not many people know how to do that,certainly not the average dealer.
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