Sluggish, Sputtering, Power loss

LukeChumley · #1 (**permalink**) 03-02-09, 01:10 PM

My 1995 ETC has been a true champion the last few months and I have been using it a highway warrior on multiple 200mi trip almost weekly for months.

This last weekend, I made a 400 mile trip to Gerogia on an easy drive down i75. I made it to Gerogia just fine, the car just doing what I told it, when I told it. For a few days while in Georgia, the car wasn't touched because let's face it, if its more than me and one passenger... well, the rear seats can leave a little to be desired.

Cranked it up last night to drive back to Tennessee, and the trip started fine. It all seemed to come crashing down after the first time I tried to trip a passing gear. The passing gear did kick in and I got around the offensive semi-trailer, although I did notice it didn't seem to be the neck-whipping thrust I am used to, I didn't think much about it.

I set the cruise control at 65 and found a lane and everything was going as usual. I started to give it just a little bit of gas to get around a little Kia infront of me probably doing 63 or something, and the car started to act like it was running out of gas. the tach was climbing in increments. It would go up and stutter, go up some more, and stutter. When I got around the Kia, I let it fall back to cruise where it was just fine. No stuttering or anything like that. You wouldn't have known there was ever a problem.

If I VERY LIGHTLY laid into the gas pedal, everything would be fine but if I need a little extra we started sputtering again. I figured I could live with this until I got home.

I stopped about mid trip to get a bite to eat. When I cranked the car back up it was idling different. I don't know that it was rough, but it wasn't what I was used to - after putting 90k on a car, you know how its supposed to idle, and this wasn't it. It sounded different and I could hear a whirring. I reved it a little bit in the parking lot and it was sputtering until about 3500RPM, where the sputtering would stop but it wouldn't climb the tach very fast, either. It felt sluggish, like I was running a 4 Cyl.

On my way back to the interstate ramp, I stopped at a light where the car would act like it was going to stall out, but wouldn't. I have changed the EGR Valve on this car and I remember what it idled like when that was bad, and this was very similar.

Getting back on the interstate, I sputtered to 55 where I set the cruise. now Iw as sputtering all over the place - so I disengaged the cruise and tried to give the car what it wanted, which a very reduced work load. 45 seemed to work best until an incline would get the better of it.

I cranked her up this morning to come to work (no interstate driving), and the idle on the tach was a little low and the interior was virbrating something awful. I won't dare pull infront of anyone and avoid traffic lights like the plague right now. I'm thinking an Air filter or Fuel Filter or Fuel Pump. any Troubleshooting techniques or a solution to the problem is greatly appreciated in advanced.

Thanks,
Luke

**Ranger** · #2 (**permalink**) 03-02-09, 05:45 PM

Put a fuel pressure gauge on it and tape it to the windshield. See what the pressure does when you get on it. If it falls hard when you get on it, then the pump is going.

KCMO94Eldo · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-09, 05:12 AM

Pull the spark plugs , are they all dry ?

LukeChumley · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-09, 07:54 PM

Today, I pulled the plugs and wires and a few of them were beyond shot. I replaced the air filter.. things are still acting screwy. I sent it to the shop to have the fuel system worked on.. I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't go too much beyond that. I'll keep this post updated for future reference.

N*Caddy · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-09, 11:16 PM

It does sound like fuel pump…

jbrown93etc · #6 (**permalink**) 03-07-09, 01:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N*Caddy

It does sound like fuel pump…

X2

mine will do this when low on gas and hot out and long drives (causing pump to heat up), but runs perfect with a full tank

N*Caddy · #7 (**permalink**) 03-07-09, 05:24 PM

This is exactly why my fuel level never got bellow the half mark. Well it actually have seen the low fuel warning light once (years ago first days after I bought the car when I was curios to see how much gas it uses). But never ever since that day the fuel level dropped bellow half. The reason is the actual gas is used to cool down the fuel pump. As a result every 3 to 4 days I am filling up from half to full level, always religiously.

**Ranger** · #8 (**permalink**) 03-07-09, 09:09 PM

I agree with you N*, but I don't think you have to keep it quite that high. 1/4 tank is more than sufficient.

WeBeAutos · #9 (**permalink**) 09-30-09, 04:58 PM

So was it the fuel pump?

///Michael

submariner409 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-30-09, 05:17 PM

The OP's Eldorado is a lot different from your DTS, and the symptoms don't match your lack of power and engine noise.

While you're in there, put a fuel pressure test gauge on the fuel rail Schrader fitting and look for 35-37 lbs before start, then 40+ lbs. at idle. Listen to every injector with a stethoscope for constant, rhythmic ticking.