I was driving a 2.5 hour trip yesterday and noticed a substantial loss of power around the 3k/70MPH range. As I kept going, I felt some sort of jerk or shimmy (most closely related to an automatic tranny shift, but I have a manual), then a few seconds later, the engine just gracefully cut-off. I pulled over and was able to start it again after waiting a few minutes, and didn't notice any problems afterward, but nonetheless I'm still wondering what happened. The shimmys have happened a few times in the past few days, but never the cutting off thing.

Temperature was not a problem, nor was I low on gas. I'm thinking either air filter, fuel filter, or something of that nature. I have replaced my air filter, but can never remember replacing the fuel filter in the 2 years that I've owned this vehicle. Does this problem sound indicative of a clogged fuel filter or something else?

Let me know what you think and any suggestions are welcome.

 

i would change the fuel filter and see if it does it anymore

 

Sounds like the engine is being starved of fuel...Chec the fuel filter out, and dump some STP in there...

 

Ok, thanks guys...I'll start there.

Just for my knowledge, is there any "litmus test" for labeling symptoms as air intake problems over fuel injection problems?

 

A lady I work with just had this same thing happen to her 1994 last month! It turned out to be her fuel pump. She had them change the filter also which they said was rather bad. I would start with the fuel filter but be prepared to do a pump...... Have you given it a tune up since you’ve owned it, plugs, wires cap & rotor air filter? While you’re at it I would change all the fluids in the entire rig it will thank you for it trust me! Just my .02!!!

 

A clogged fuel filter will eventually kill a fuel pump. I usually change my fuel filters every 20K miles. It's a ton easier to change a fuel pump than it is to drop the fuel tank to change the pump.