Yesterday when I was driving on the freeway at about 70 mph my car randomly cut power I merges to get off the freeway and it cut back on I initially thought I was out of gas but I had 3 gal in the tank still. Well when I merged to get off the car kicked back on my check engine light turned on and I drove to the gas station filled up and that didn't happen again. But I noticed when I start my car it takes a few cranks to ignite. I changed the plugs wires rotor cap. New fuel filter. How do I know if I need a new pump? Any suggestions about what could cause this?
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sigpic -
A failing fuel pump (or a bad fuel pump relay) will result in a somewhat gradual loss of power. You will also see the econometer drive toward zero as the DME tries to compensate for the loss of fuel flow.
A loss of timing data (bad CPS) or DME power will produce a sudden and dramatic loss of power, much like if you had switched off the engine. A symptom of this will be a big drop in the reading of the tach.
Diagnostic actions depends on which type of cut out occurred. The fuel system can be tested (procedure is in the Bentley) and flaky or suspect relays can be replaced with new parts. The fusible link in the DME power cable can be checked for high resistance. About all you can do for a suspect CPS is to replace it with a new OE part.The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
Jim Levie, Huntsville, AL -
I have a problem with what seems like the same problem, minus the out of gas issue. But it only happens at a certain rpm. Around 5k... Is it the same cps problem or is this something different? Its an 87 325is btw.Comment
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Thanks for the advicesigpicComment
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It cuts out as I accelerate like there is a clog or something or its not getting fuel for .5 sec I noticed today. Would the CPS still affect this?sigpicComment
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Without further evidence or diagnostics it is impossible to say what is the most likely cause.The car makes it possible, but the driver makes it happen.
Jim Levie, Huntsville, ALComment
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