Brief loss of power under acceleration, also when hitting bumps

[Rampelsauce]

So this just started today. I was accelerating hard down an on ramp when my car started "missing". The best way I can describe it is a very brief loss of engine power with a couple dash lights popping on for a split second.

Not battery related because my lights stayed on, heater blower blowing at full.

Also, while driving down the freeway, if I hit a bump the brief loss of power would strike again. Power comes back with a clunk. Then, like nothing happened, the car keeps motoring until the next incident.

Im going to try to check connections in the morning, but does anyone have an idea as to the cause of this problem?

It could be something loose (just dealt with my central locking having a loose connection that made my locks freak out).

Thanks for the time, this is my daily driver and my baby.

[phenobarb1]

Check your crank position sensor. That's what it was on my car.

[AndrewBird]

Could a a fuel pump going out. I'd check the main relay as well.

[dnguyen1963]

Check your grounds and cables to alternator.

[Rampelsauce]

Okay, here's the score.

So this morning the car wouldnt start. I scrambled and threw in my spare fuel pump. Still just cranking, no fire. I threw in new relays. Still no start. I tapped on my maf, wiggled crank position sensor, checked ground connections.

After three 7 second bursts of cranking the car came to life. I drove down the road to a stop sign and the car died. My car would not idle. Keeping my revs up at stops, I made it to work. After work my car fired right up. Now at stops, the idle was bouncing momentarily between 500-1000, then settling back at 750 when I came to a complete stop. Reminds me of when you disconnect your computer and it has to briefly re-learn.

Im really not sure what happened. Im going to do some exploratory surgery today and try to find my gremlin. Any other suggestions would be fantastic though.

Thanks again everyone for your input!

[Gregs///M]

Sounds like a bad AFM.

[Rampelsauce]

I have an extra AFM. May give it a good cleaning and throw it on there. Had two hiccups today. Otherwise its been okay.

[nando]

have you replaced the main relay with a NEW one? after an experience chasing my tail on something similar for almost a year, I will never trust a 20 year old relay again..

[TobyB]

Yeah, my thought was main relay as well.

Also c104- the one under the intake, if you have that.

And crank position sensor, too.

t

[Hey_You]

I had a problem once where my engine would cut out and lose power for a few seconds. Turned out it was the reference wire going to the starter. Doesn't sound like this is YOUR problem, but wouldn't hurt to check.