Hi,

Did a 1000km trip yesterday with my 1998 Blazer - had it in cruise at about 110km/hr - climbing a hill, I started slowing down to about 90km/hr - suddenly it started to lurch like it was losing power - I took it out of cruise and it did the same thing driving off the pedal.

Pulled over at the next gas station - a travelling mechanic (??) that I ran into said he thought it was probably the fuel filter and suggested adding some gas line anti-freeze to clear out gunk in the filter.

There's no problem starting, idling, and driving up to about 100 km/hr, as long as you're on the straight and narrow -- anything where you have to step on it kills the power and it starts lurching.

I was thinking about changing the fuel filterfirst and then going from there. Any other suggestions as to what this could be? The other suggestion from the guy at the gas station was the fuel pump, but my experience is that pumps usually just go, they don't drive for another 400km.

Being on the road, I'm trying to remember how to depressurize the fuel system first - can someone remind me what I do to depressurize - otherwise, I could just deal with some loss of fuel (at $1M per gallon - ha ha).

Any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks.
Grant

 

I would also check to be sure the catalytic converter is not plugged up.

 

easiest way to depressurize is to pull the fuel pump relay and then try to start it. Or if you let it sit for a day or two it will just get you fuel coated not sprayed.

 

Mine did that, too. It was a plugged cat. I've read on here you can check if that's the case by pulling out (and disconnect the wire) an O2 sensor before the cat.

 

Just wanted to follow up - replaced the fuel filter and noticed an immediate improvement in power - drove another 1000km home and had no problems.

Thanks for the quick replies and suggestions!!