First off I own a 88 N/A
Ok well I searched and could find no conclusive answers.
Problem: Around half a tank my car will start to hesitate if I rev it high, the lower the fuel gauge goes the worse it gets, to the point of where I can't rev it past 2k with out it hesitation.

Now to describe the hesitation: when it hesitates it will not respond to any play with the gas pedal, the rpms seem to drop as if the engine is only being turned by the wheels, or if I put it in neutral it will drop to idle as it should, and a few times it has died. At first I thought this was the notorious 3800 hesitantion, then I noticed that it only did it when I was around a forth a tank.

This problem manifested it's self somewhat when I first got the car , but only at high revs which is why I thought it was the 3800 hesitantion, it has gotten worse, as I previously stated to where if I'm around 1/4 tank I can barely rev it past 2 or 2.5k with out this problem occuring.

Two more issues with this problem is that earlier I was a little over 1/4 tank and my fuel light came on, then it hesitated. I continued to drive it and it only did it once, the final enigma is that if I make a hard left turn, no matter what the fuel level is it will sometimes do the same hesitantion, it will not do this if I make a hard right turn, and I have tried this over and over so I know it to be true.

I just had the fuel filter replaced 180 miles ago, so I know thats not the problem, sorry for the length, just wanted to be thorough.

 

possibly clogged fuel filter, could be coincidence that it occurs at different fuel tank levels. or dirty/clogged injectors. Fuel pump could be going out too, when a fuel pump gets tired and old it will decide when it wants to function to its full potential untill its dead. try these if not get your injectors flowtested/bluprinted.
just a few suggestions

 

Sounds like a problem with the fuel pump, most likely electrical. However, make sure your fuel filter is not on backwards. People have made that mistake! Also, your gauge may be off and when it's hesitating it may actually be very low on fuel.

 

i haven't thoroughly went through the mechanics of these things so don't shoot me down if this sounds stupid ok..does it have a sock in the tank to filter the fuel?Sort of sounds like when it gets low on fuel it wants to bog down on ya ..if it has one and is dirty enough it could be only allowing you to get good fuel flow when the sock is floatin' around in a giant bath of fuel..when the tank level gets lower the crap sticks together and gives it that "sukin a golf balll through a garden hose effect...anyway I suspect that you wanted any suggestions at all so this one I offer up..Later!

 

thanks for the help, I'll check into the fuel pump thing

 

It sounds like the fuel pump baffle fell apart?
The fuel pump pick-up normally sits in a "cup".
If the welds fail or the insides of the gas tank is rusty, this sump would fall out of place.


-Ted

 

I was just about to post the same thing. My vote is also for the baffle. Pull the pump and make sure it's still in place.

 

Special thanx to hIGGI for cutting a gas tank open!

http://rx7cz.net/photos/workshop124/IMG_4766.JPG

You see the rectangular thing at the bottom of the gas tank?
Check to see if you have one...


-Ted