So a few months back I noticed when I was going downhill the car would feel like it died, would fall to 1000 RPM and then come back up, either by itself or a little tap on the gas.

Fast forward to last night. The girlfriend and I drive to the top of Mount Lolo. Nice drive. But it was rough. Ran like a charm to the top. As soon as we are headed down the hill I noticed that the car was dying. Like it was out of gas, then not out. etc etc.

I figure two things. Its ignition or Spark. So today I checked the plug wires and coil wire. All tight. Go for a drive, fine. Then later in the day coming home from the gym I jam on the brakes and the car died at the light. Fires right up easily.

Fuel pump isn't noisy, and runs fine and dandy (maybe a bit rich) otherwise.

Going on a road trip this weekend, would like to get somthing sorted out.

Thanks for any hints or pointers

Jordan

Got it


It was the radio supression relay. PO had cut it open and soldiered it. I guess it failed or was failing, again.

Thanks for your help guys

Jordan

I'm surprised no one mentioned intank pump, or hole in the small hose in the tank. Lots of the symptoms you described, occur with less than 1/4tank. Downhill, cornering. Same stuff.

http://www.brickboard.com/FAQ/700-900/FuelSystem.htm#FuelPrePumpProblemsDiagnoses

I thought that. So I filled the tank to the top, and it actually got worse. Its actually getting worse the longer this goes...

I'm going to try the radio suppression relay right now.

Jordan

" noticed when I was going downhill the car would feel like it died, would fall to 1000 RPM and then come back up"

"As soon as we are headed down the hill I noticed that the car was dying."

"Then later in the day coming home from the gym I jam on the brakes and the car died at the light. Fires right up easily."

Every time that this has happened, you were going down hill (and no doubt using the natural vaccum created by the engine to maintain your speed) or braking. I think this supports a vacuum leak in the brake booster as the cause of your problem.

Quick and dirty test: Pump the brakes about a half dozen times with the engine off. Hold the pedal to the floor and start the engine. A second or so after the engine kicks over, you should feel the pedal drop. Now turn the engine off. If the pedal tries to come back up, you have a leak.

Could be the vacuum hose running to the booster OR the check valve. Picture below shows the junction of the hose and valve.

Charles,

Thanks for the idea. I went out and tried. It didn't work. I even took the valve and hose off another car and tried it out. It didn't work either.

Grounds maybe? Ugh I dunno

Jordan

Sorry that you went through all of that to no effect.

Something that seems pretty obvious to me now but unfortunately did not register with my peabrain earlier: the throttle position sensor. When you're going down hill you have a natural tendency to take your foot off the gas, and obviously you do so when you're braking.

Could still be a vacuum leak somewhere.

Today I:
Tried a different fuel pump relay (didn't work)
Disconnected and plugged the brake booster (didn't work)
TPS is clicking at right time.

More notes on the problem.

Does it while cruising now
is getting progressivly worse
over bumps and some corners it likes to cut out
is dying completly often now.
used to be able to catch it with a blip of the throttle. Now that doesn't work.

I am getting frustrated. Want to take this car on a trip friday evening. Might break down and take it to a shop tommorow. (gross)

What about the Radio Supression relay? It has been cut opened and re-soldered by the previous owner.

A ground? But which one? Nothing looked corroded when I checked them over (I live in a desert)

Jordan