99 LX hesitation under load

[nahtnoj]

1st post! 100% stock with 143K. Searched and didn't find the answer (wrong terms?)

I've had this vehicle for about thee weeks.

I drove it from Philadelphia to Rochester (800 miles) and back Labor Day weekend with absolutely no issues.

Took it to the Poconos this weekend. It sputtered a few times in the first 5-10 miles of the trip back today. Each time I was going up a short incline at about 45-50 mph. The engine felt like it was being starved for fuel, and the RPMs dropped from ~2,000 to 1,500 before I gave it more gas. Then it ran fine for another 15-20 miles of 50-55 speeds (including some longer grades) and 100 miles on the highway at 65-70. Not a peep.

The tank was about 3/4 when this happened, which kinda points away from mere fuel starvation, unless the filter is really trashed. No CEL.

Anyone else experience this? I know the PO was dealing with some similar issues. Didn't get all the records from him so I'll reach out and see what he has already replaced.

Thanks,

Jon

 

[parnoren]

I don't know if this is the same thing as what I experienced a couple of years ago. When driving up an incline, the rpm's fell about 500rpm and I had to press the pedal to get the car up to speed again. It happened really fast and by pushing down on the pedal I got the rpm's up again. My remedy was to take out the slight slack I had on the accelerator cable, which seemed to want to lay itself on top of the mechanism (sorry, don't know the name of this part) instead of inside the slot where the wire should be seated. Maybe check if you have some play in the wire and go from there.

 

[nahtnoj]

Thanks; I'll check the throttle cable.

Very light throttle in each case, and was modulating speed to maintain following distance, so light that the first time it happened I thought I just took my foot of the gas (was futzing with the radio at the time).

Sounds like the PO replaced the TPS about 20K ago (which fixed it), along with the fuel pump (guessing before he got it right). What happened absolutely felt like the fuel pump cutting out. My old Volvo with the shot in-tank pre-pump used to do this on highway ramps when the tank was very low.

 

[RobRed]

$40 fuel filter may help you out.

 

[nahtnoj]

OK, I need to order a few things for the AC (flush kit, evap cover, cabin air filters) and will add a fuel filter to the list.