sound like a fuel pump to you?

[AaronW]

So I'm headed home on labor day, and my 91 Ford Escort dies, out on the interstate. (Yeah, I know, I know, it's a Ford...). I try to start it, and it chugs a bit, starts without coming up to full idle, and dies. I sit there for a while, and it starts again. I go another couple miles down the road, and the same thing happens.

Sounds like clogged fuel filter or more than likely a fuel pump to me. Does that sound right ot all of you? Or is there something else obvious I should check, that I'm not thinking of? That car gets 40 mpg on the highway, and with gas prices as they are, I need to get that thing back on the road. I was, at the time, hauling 4 4 x 4 sheets of cut-out hard maple gym floor up on my roof. Some weight, but not overdoing it or anything.

Aaron

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Sounds like you're on the right track.

 

[fast 99]

Could be fuel, change the filter. Can't remember exactly but think it is behind the motor on the firewall. If not, it's under the car. Really need to check the pressure. Try spraying carb cleaner in the air intake, if it starts would suspect fuel issue first.

 

[Hunter79764]

Filter first, then check pump if it's still acting up.
A bit of a long shot, but we had a Trans Am that acted similarly, went through all the trouble of changing the pump (pressure was checked, a little low, so axle was dropped, tank was dropped, pump changed, etc.) and it did the same thing again. Turned out it was a clogged catalytic converter that choked up when warm and flowed enough to sorta run when cool. Just a thought, but I think you're on the right track.

 

[AaronW]

Thanks for the replies, all. This problem just got more complicated, too, since I think that I've also got a blown head gasket. Sigh.