I was driving on the highway today with a full tank of gas for about 20 miles at 70-75mph and when I got off the exit I was coasting at around 30-35 and I tried to accelerate, it couldn't I tried tapping the gas and the best way I can try to describe it would be that it felt like I had ran out of gas and I couldn't accelerate. Then I left off the gas and tried again and it would accelerate. The power steering did NOT go out, nor did my radio or electronics so it didn't really stall so to say.

Then once I was on the main road I drove for about a mile and within that mile it did the same thing about 8 times. I got to my dads shop let me jeep sit for about 20 mins with my hood up, Then I had to got back on the highway and drove back for another 20 miles and it did the same thing about 5-10 times on the way home.

It has never done this to me before, I've owned the jeep for about 3 months and I've never had any problems like this. But on my way home I stopped at walmart and bought some seafoam poured it into my gas tank along with 5 gallons on fuel and I drove it around for about 15 mins and didn't feel any hesitation like I was earlier.

Does anyone know what could be going on?

 

Perform a fuel pressure test.

 

I don't know how to do that? Is it difficult?

 

Nope. Either rent a fuel pressure tester from one of the parts stores, buy one, or have a shop perform the test.

 

What will that tell me?

 

If it's starving for fuel due to a bad fuel pump.

 

Ok I'll do that tomorrow, what is the fuel pump supposed to be pumping at? A certain psi right?

 

Yes. One pressure at idle with the vacuum hose connected to the fuel pressure regulator and one with it disconnected.

Perhaps my friend Mr Walker will chime in with the specs?

 

Ok thanks, I'd like to know the psi just so I know if I have a bad fuel pump.

 

I believe it's suppose to be around 49 psi give or take 5 psi. I'm having similar problems with my 97. I will be able to tell you for sure when i get to work tomorrow.

 

Always post the year/engine. Significant differences among the years.

For an 87-95, the fuel pressure spec is 31 psi, then remove the vacuum line leading to the fuel pressure regulator and it should jump to approximately 39 psi. For the 96-01, the spec is 49 psi, plus or minus 5 psi.

Watch the tachometer closely when these blips happen. If the tach drops out at exactly the same time, you may have a crankshaft position sensor (or an ignition coil) that is starting to fail.

 

Sorry about that, I have a 1996 straight 6.

I drove it for about 20 total miles today and haven't had the problem occur. I will be going to class soon which is 20 miles back and forth on the highway so we will see if it happens, but I think the Seafoam may have fixed things.

I will do a fuel pressure check when I have time this weekend.

Thanks for the response on the correct psi!

 

I was going to say if you had a full tank of gas, did you just get gas? You may have had some water in the fuel from a bad fill up. If you added the sea foam to the tank then it may have absorbed the water.

 

That's a possibility, but I'm not sure, I filled my tank up all the way, then drove on the highway for 20 miles, then it first happened right when I got off the highway, the entire 20 mile drive on the way there on the highway I didn't have any of the problems. It was once I got off the highway.