URGENT (Midtrip) Throttle Unresponsive Intermittently, Possible TFI Issue?

I'm halfway between Dallas and Phoenix right now. (staying overnight in Van Horn). After driving for about five hours, the throttle seemed inconsistent, like the engine wasn't receiving a steady amount of fuel. From there, the car completely disregarded what I did with the fuel pedal, it maintained speed but nothing I did had any effect on the RPM's or speed. The car began decelerating, and eventually it got slow to the point of being dangerous to keep on the 80+ mph road. I pulled over and checked it out, nothing seemed out of place.

Oil level is fine, radiator fluid is fine, the car wasn't overheating.

It started up fine ten minutes later, and the car continued without issue for roughly 30 miles before doing the same thing again. I pulled over again very briefly, started the car again, but the problem reoccurred almost immediately. Again I pulled over, waited for fifteen minutes, and after that I was able to make it to my hotel.

Does this issue seem patently like a TFI issue? We didn't relocate the to a cooler area as we didn't have the time before doing so, instead I ran a duct from the valence to below the TFI as an attempt to get some better cooling to it.

Or could it be something else, like the fuel pump?

Hey too bad you aint back here I could help you out. Denton just an hour away.

I am thinking fuel pump or Filter. Check the TPS if you have a volt meter. I am leaning more toward the fuel system.

Sounds like fuel delivery. Hard to pinpoint without doing testing. But whe it does it check the spark by placing the center wire about an inch away from some mettal on the engine. It should jump at least one inch or better and be a blue color not orange. Good luck and keep us posted TOM

Is the fuel filter located inside of the fuel tank, or is it somewhere more convenient?

The fuel filter is located just in front of the passenger rear wheel in the frame rail. But it does sound like the fuel pump. Samething happen to mine some time ago.

Awesome, I forgot to ask -- is the fuel pump located in the tank either?

Originally posted by ameswarb:
Awesome, I forgot to ask -- is the fuel pump located in the tank either?

its in the tank.

Best of luck! I'd help if I was closer.

Yes the fuel pump is in the tank. It does sound like the pump is maybe over heating. If it cools down and runs fine that's probably what it is. Do the fuel pump test to be sure.

Its not a big job to change the in tank pump if you are stuck. Or just have a local shop change it out. Sounds like a pump. But hard to tell without seing the problem.