sputters under load

98 contour Z tech sputters under load. It idles ok and cruises at same speed ok but when power braking or accelerating it sputters or skips bad. Changed plugs air and fuel filter which seemed to cure problem for a day or so. Have run 6 bottles of injector cleaner at fill ups and 3 bottles of water remover with no change. It SEEMS to be not so bad with a full tank of gas and progressively gets worse the lower the fuel level. Code is P0301 cyl 1 misfire. No other codes

Is it a bad injector? Is there a fuel pressure regulator? Fuel pump? Something else? Any help is appreciated. Also locations of possible defective components is very helpful.
Thanks,
Don

Sounds like a fuel pump/fuel pump screen is clogged.

How do you remove the fuel line and the vent line at the pump?

How do you remove the fuel line and the vent line at the pump?

If youre referring to the black and red lines, I think you just pull them out.

If youre referring to the black and red lines, I think you just pull them out.



Replaced fuel pump............CURED PROBLEM

98 contour Z tech sputters under load. It idles ok and cruises at same speed ok but when power braking or accelerating it sputters or skips bad. Changed plugs air and fuel filter which seemed to cure problem for a day or so. Have run 6 bottles of injector cleaner at fill ups and 3 bottles of water remover with no change. It SEEMS to be not so bad with a full tank of gas and progressively gets worse the lower the fuel level. Code is P0301 cyl 1 misfire. No other codes

Is it a bad injector? Is there a fuel pressure regulator? Fuel pump? Something else? Any help is appreciated. Also locations of possible defective components is very helpful.
Thanks,
Don


try a new coil pack. it did the trick with my zetec. the coilpack is located to the left side of the engine. its the square box that the wires go to the spark plugs. the same problem can come from a faulty pcm (power control module). its a computer for the whole motor that controlls all the solenoids and sensors telling the motor to buck like all holy hell between 3rd and 4th!! or in your case, the last resort/replacement part for your car. but seriously man, try the coilpack first ;) good luck.

try a new coil pack. it did the trick with my zetec. the coilpack is located to the left side of the engine. its the square box that the wires go to the spark plugs. the same problem can come from a faulty pcm (power control module). its a computer for the whole motor that controlls all the solenoids and sensors telling the motor to buck like all holy hell between 3rd and 4th!! or in your case, the last resort/replacement part for your car. but seriously man, try the coilpack first ;) good luck.

Did you read his last post where he said he fixed the problem by replacing the fuel pump?