1997 Chevy S-10 Stutter, surge, choke and pow

1997 CHEVROLET S-10
181,000 MILES • 4 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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JKROLLINS
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My chevy has developed engine issues. When I am running it (driving or idle) the engine seems choked or like it has half the power. At times it will surge and if I press the gas too much it will backfire. This is not a consistent problem... sometime the truck will run fine.

So far I have only changed the PCV valve and that didn't help. Any ideas?
Dec 30, 2008 at 8:08 PM
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JAMES W.
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Firstly, do you have a check engine light? Also, when you say it "backfires", do you mean it pops out the tailpipe, or up through the air cleaner? Please advise.
Dec 30, 2008 at 11:06 PM
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JKROLLINS
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No check engine light. Popping (i called it a backfire...) comes from the engine area - under the hood - when I accelerate a bit more than average.

Thanks for your help.

Jason
Dec 30, 2008 at 11:57 PM
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JAMES W.
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The popping you're hearing is normally called "lean coughing", Which means the engine is starving for fuel. This could be cause by a vacuum leak, a plugged fuel filter, a bad fuel pressure regulator, or a weak fuel pump. If your filter is good, I would run a fuel pressure test at the fuel rail and go from there.
Dec 31, 2008 at 12:35 AM
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JKROLLINS
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Thanks for your help. This gives me a good direction to start.
Dec 31, 2008 at 9:52 AM
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JAMES W.
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Let me know what you find or can help you further.
Dec 31, 2008 at 1:17 PM
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JKROLLINS
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Looks like the fuel filter was the issue.... I think it was still the original part. Truck seems to run fine now.

Thank you sooo much.
Dec 31, 2008 at 2:17 PM