When I was driving on Fri my car lost all power. I pressed the clutch and the car would barely idle as I coasted to a stop. I tried to give it gas and when I did it died. I tried to start it back up and it would start, but wouldn't run for more than 20 sec. Got her towed home. Didn't do anything with it till Sunday. Started it up to see if I could figure out the problem and it ran. I've driven it 200 miles since then and she is still running. Just nervous of when it's going to happen again. I'm going to replace my fuel filter tonight, haven't done that in 6 years or so. Got any ideas?

 

Have you checked the fuel pressure yet?

 

Give us more details. Was the car obviously misfiring? What do you mean by "lost all power?" Sounds like it might be a fuel problem, like maybe the pump is priming and then you lose pressure after and the car dies? Just one idea, but I'm not sure even that makes a whole lot of sense. I'm not thinking coil, or opti, just because they usually give problems when they heat up. Change your fuel filter and maybe see what's going on with your fuel pressure, then report back. That's very odd it isn't doing it now, though.

EDIT:
Kool-aid, now that's not fair beating me to the turkey. :P Mine was longer to type. Haha!

 

Just like a trip to the doctor, you should run diagnostics. In other words, check all the system parameters. I've always found a GOOD tune-up cures most problems. Install new plugs, wires, oil, coolant, PCV (if you have one) air filter etc.... Read the plugs, they'll tell you alot. Check fuel pressure at idle and other RPMs. Change the opti if it's been a while (and the W/P while you are there). I know it seems like a lot but I'll bet it'll be cheaper than getting your next tow home....... Remember the old saying, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound or cure" ,just my .02 Good luck!

 

Might check the map sensor gasket.Hope this helps.

 

What I meant by losing power was it would barely idle, maybe about 500 RPM's. Every time I tried to give it gas it would die. There was no missing whatsoever.

As for the tune up, the plugs and wires are less than a year old. The opti cap and rotor are about a year old. The opti itself is about 5 yrs. Air filter is a K&N that was cleaned about 20k ago, should be fine.

So can you rent a gauge to check fuel pressure? I know there is the connector on the fuel lines on the back of the engine.

 

You can rent, but they're indispensable. Just spent the $30 to get one that you will be able to use for ever. From the sounds of it, fuel pressure is something we would definitely be interested in at this point.

 

sounds like fuel pump is going out but how much fuel did you have when you had to tow it

 

I had about half a tank.

I changed the fuel filter and checked fuel pressure last night. When turning the key to the on position, it held at about 45 psi. When running it dropped to about 40 psi. When simulating WOT it was 47 psi.

 

Dangit.... It looks good then...

Maybe it was a weird fluke man. A temporary bad ground or bad fuel??? None of it makes sense, though. Do you have any codes? I would say just keep an eye on your fuel pump and opti, but other than that, just sit tight. It's kinda of hard to diagnose a car that seems to have nothing wrong with it. Is possible, scan for codes.

 

I know, that's what I thought. No codes thrown. Maybe I'll keep the pressure gauge in my car so that if I'm on the side of the road again, it will give me something to do until the tow truck driver gets there.

 

Ok, new clue. Got stranded again today. I when I tried to start my car up I listened for the fuel pump. It sounded like it was pumping air. It was spinning at much higher RPM's than normal. I waited 20 minutes, turned the key in the run position and the pump sounded normal. I then drove it home. It chugged a little bit, but I made it home. Sounds like a new pump, huh?

 

sounds like the pump is working intermediately and when it gets warm or hot it's failing and giving out

 

Bingo, now THAT makes sense. I would tape the fuel pressure gauge to the window and watch it AS you drive. Unless you want to go ahead and spend the money to buy a new pump. If it were me, that's what I would do, personally...

 

i would just go straght to the pump and not risk any more tow expense