HI guys,

I have been an owner of a felicia fun for just over 2 weeks.

Now, it has been for a full service, brakes oil, coolant handbrake etc 5 days ago.

I am getting a problem where by when i try to accelerate, say I am just exiting a roundabout on 2nd gear, and move up to 3rd , around 3,000 rpm the car will sort of jump forward slightly ( or it feels that way) and I have to either back off the gas, or dip my clutch to remidy it. this would happen 1 or 2 times a journey and seemed to go away when the car was warm, and the temp needle has moved from 0

However, tonight on my way home from work, i get in my car start it from cold and drive off. I spend around 5 minutes city driving @ 30mph befroe i get onto the 70mph road. and oh my god! it was doing this 'thing' over and over again. in nearly every gear. Even in 5th sitting at a steady speed it was doing it, some of these 'moments' were bigger than others though.

it is hard to hear anything because of the road noise, but from what i felt, it felt a bit like it was spluttering.

possible causes:

- firstly it could of course be the clutch. I have never had a car with a slippiong clutch though so i wouldnt know!

- I was running witht the fuel needle in the red tonight could this perhaps be the fuel lines sucking up some crap from the bottom of the tank ? or erhaps the car just running out of fuel ?

-cold - the needle harldy moves from 0 from when i set off from work to when i get back home. this is because i am always moving, never really stop. the needle does work though, as does the fan kick in if i leave it running for a long time not moving

The second point did cross my mind, so i found a petrol station ASAP, and to see if it had fixed it i floored it back onto the motorway and tried to re create the problem as best as i could but it did not happen. ( did not have far to go though as i was nearly home )

thoughs ?

Hmmm... could it be another one? Yes, most likely!

Temp needle hardly moves, you say, this is most likely a sign of a duff thermostat. Even when running it should reach the half way mark in five minutes or so.

With a broken stat the engine is "over-cooled" and of course it runs less well so this will at least partly explain your symptoms.

Fairly easy to fix, but you should change both stat and housing (plastic and breaks easily).

There are other possibilities to try out, such as cleaning the throttle box, but get at the thermostat first and see what will happen.

One of the most common faults on Felicia! Here's another fresh thread where Mr Newman also gives detailed instructions for the job:

http://briskoda.net/forums/felicia-fun-forman/felicia-heater-failure/104558/

I'd go with the thermostat first, just because it's clearly faulty.

That said, I think most of your symptoms are more indicative of fuel starvation than anything else.

Clutch slip would normally manifest itself as the engine going faster than the wheels. If you imagine driving at constant speed, but changing down a gear, that sort of effect.

I think most of your symptoms are more indicative of fuel starvation than anything else.

Do you know anything about the car's service history? A fresh fuel filter might help,the filter's a bit awkwardly placed on the Felicia (by the petrol tank) so one is tempted to overlook it...

I would start with the thermostat and temp sensor and go from there. My sisters 1.6 misfired a bit when cold, until the temp sensor was replaced.

If this doesn't work then I would move onto the ignition and fuel systems.

Hey guys.

Sorry for the late reply, I have just been trying to give the car a chance to repeat the problem.

The strange thing is, when I got to work the day after this happened, I asked the guys if thety had ever ran out of fuel, and to describe whjat happens. one of the guys said he had, and went on to descibe my problem exactly!

since the tank has been full, if has never done it again, but now that i am down to thelast quarter of the tank again, it is starting to just act a little strange.

I'll get around to replacing the thermostats some weekend too, just incase.

where is the best place to buy parts by the way ?

thanks for the help fellas, but looks like it was just a fuel problem

A possibility of a lot of crud in the bottom of the fuel tank? I'd be inclined to get it drained and the filter replaced to see if it fixes the issue. If the tank does have that amount of crap in the tank its not good for the fuel filter or engine depending on whats in it.