Power problems (fuel delivery maybe?)

[Schniddy]

I've been having this problem on and off for a few months now. Basically this is what happens. I'll be giving the car gas, at a constant pressure to the accelerator. Instead of the car increasing in speed at a constant rate, it has this jerking sputter that happens that holds it back every few seconds. Sometimes the problem goes away, other times its worse than usual.

I just filled up with a full take of gas and i noticed that it started again. Also the idling is usually lower than usual when I'm having the problem.

I can also hear a hissing sound coming from under the car on the driver’s side, more towards the rear of the car. I'm 75% sure it is coming from the fuel filter, as that is what it looks like.

Does my problem have something to do with the fuel delivery in the fuel pump or could it be something else?

I'm about to do a bunch of maintenance and maybe that will help the problem. I've been noticing a decrease in horsepower and total fuel economy recently.


Any help is appreciated.
Thanks

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

have u done any maintainance? on '87 a bunch of things could be wrong! check all your hoses(vacuum), ignition, fuel delivery (pump/filter etc)

[Schniddy]

have u done any maintainance? on '87 a bunch of things could be wrong! check all your hoses(vacuum), ignition, fuel delivery (pump/filter etc)

Nope :(

I'll be ordering some spark plugs, wires, distrib and cap soon though.
I have a fuel filter already in the mail.

If that dosn't fix it, it will at least make it easier to find out what needs done.

[PiercedE30]

may want to replace most of the rubber hoses around the tank and fuel filter while your there.

[Schniddy]

Would having a hole in the fuel ventilation tank have anything to do with it?





edit: looks like i'm not the only one having this problem. Missed this thread a few topics down and he described the problem a lot better.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=80426

weather seems to be a key factor too.

[euroshark]

Injectors and vacuum leaks. Look there first. Lack of pressure in the fuel system could be a small issue, but it sounds a lot more like an air leak or dirty / clogged injectors, or possibly a dirty / faulty AFM.

[MikeE30325i]

sounds like you have a fuel leak in a hose on the way to the injectors. do you notice any leaks on the ground when you park at night? if air gets into the lines the car will sputter really badly.

is it usually really cold when it is at its worst?

[Schniddy]

I havn't noticed any puddles in the garadge.

Today there was no problems. Today was also sunny out, but still cold. I'm pretty sure now it only happens after rain/snow.

[Schniddy]

So I put the car up on stands today to do the o2 senor and the fuel filter. The senor went in fine, but the fuel filter is being a bitch... yes something that should take 5 minutes is taking forever.

The Jubilee rings are all rusted at the screws. So I bought some liquid wrench and I've been drowning them in it. It hasn't done a thing; I can barley get any grip with the flat head either.

Any suggestions? The only thing i can think of is just cutting them, but there super tight so I'm not sure if getting pliers under them is possible.

Any suggestions from the Rust Belt states?

[lordofthewaters]

I havn't noticed any puddles in the garadge.

Today there was no problems. Today was also sunny out, but still cold. I'm pretty sure now it only happens after rain/snow.

If it only happens when it's wet out, it sounds to me like either the wires or dist cap getting moist.

[Schniddy]

If it only happens when it's wet out, it sounds to me like either the wires or dist cap getting moist.

thats what I'm thinking too. I'll be replacing the cap/rotor,wires,and plugs pretty soon. Right now the fuel filter filter problem is being a bitch

any ideas?

[lordofthewaters]

Got enough extra in the line to just cut clamp out? If you do I say go to your local parts house get a short piece and replace that. What I had to do when mine was leaking.

[Schniddy]

I've only tried to remove the clips that are around the filter itself. I havn't even tried the clips holding the hoes on, but they look just as bad.

I'll probably have to get a screw driver and force it under the clilps on the filter and cut those off and then cut the ones off from the hoes. I'll have to have the replacements on hand though.

thanks

Jon

[Schniddy]

I've read recently that the o2 senor does nothing until the car is warmed up. The weird thing is for the longest time my car has taken about 5 seconds to start up and now after I put in this new sensor, it started up immediately. Weird?