Worrying problem.. Any ideas what this is?

[SICK-92-AWD]

Hey, for the last few weeks i've had a re-occuring issue with my car. Its a 92 model so its fairly aged.. Whenever i drive up a long hill with the revs resonably high (sitting around 4000rpm) after a while up the hill the car will begin to lose power and sound and feel as though its running really rough (sounds as though its running on 2 or 3 cylinders). When i come to a stop the car idles really roughly and shakes badly. If i turn the car fully off then wait a few seconds then re-start it will run fine again. This problem only ever occurs on hills.. (It only happens about 1 in every 5 times i climb the hill) I'm completely lost as to what this is and why its happening.. Any ideas?
Thanx, Phill

[Wiscon_Mark]

no CELs? I don't imagine that altitude is a concern.

When's the last time you had a tune up?

[SICK-92-AWD]

Sorry what are CELS? Nah altitude isnt an issue. It had a tune up about 3 months ago. I'm really stumped as to why this only happens on hills..

[Huffer]

Check Engine Light

How much gas in the tank?

[SICK-92-AWD]

Engine light is as normal and i have had this happen to me with very little petrol and with a full tank.

[BAC5.2]

Sounds like a fuel delivery problem. Runs out of fuel, you come to a stop and turn it off, you turn it back on and the fuel pump can re-prime the system and the car runs fine.

Probably not a leak.

I'd check the electrical connections on the fuel pump, and when was the last time you changed your fuel filter?

It MIGHT be a bad fuel pump, but that's unlikely. How many miles on the car?

[SICK-92-AWD]

260,000 on the clock but the car was nurtured for practically all of that. yea i might check the connection. im not sure about the fuel filter, i'll check that too. thanx for the help mate.

[Wiscon_Mark]

260,000 kilometers, I think he means, not miles.

[SICK-92-AWD]

haha yea sorry i keep forgetting this is an american site. so about 161,500 miles. decided im gonna change the fuel filter and see what happens from there.

[MoclovFlop]

Does it sound like knocking when it's running rough? Maybe check your oil level because i believe the pickup is in the front of the pan, and might not be getting enough oil when on a steep incline.

[SICK-92-AWD]

nah the oil level is right up and has been for ages now. hopefully fuel filter which im replacing today.

[speederfly]

nah the oil level is right up and has been for ages now. hopefully fuel filter which im replacing today.

That would be my suggestion, if it's (fuel filter) really filthy you might possibly think about maybe the chance that you could have to clean your tank (that could also possibly be more of a PITA than it's worth). Do you live in a dusty area? Ever fill up with a gas can? possiblymaybemightcouldbe. :-?