1998 Rav 4 - hesitates when accelerating

I have a 1998 Rav 4, all wheel drive, that hesitates when accelerating up a small grade, at 2000 RPM - it always happens while driving uphill. I've changed the spark plugs, changed the PCV valve (which helped, but only temporarily), and am going to try new plug wires...

Could it be a gas filter, or something in the fuel system?

Any help/ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Jim

Sounds like it could be some sort of a Fuel Injection issue. Have your fuel injectors recently been cleaned and or replaced? Also sounds like it could be a sensor that is not allowing enough gas to reach the cylinders.

Try putting in a good fuel system cleaner, try revving it up to around 4000 rpm if the engine rpm goes up and down .then the injectors cant keep up with how fast its trying to go

If it has a problem going up hill...and what u have done sounds reasonable...i tend to think its the catalytic converter..and the exaust gasses are backing up and causing back pressure..if so, change the converter and put in a good fuel system cleaner in it ..the exaust gasses backing up cause a build up of carbon in your engine and you have to clean it back out..a bad catalytic converter will cause your verhicle to become slower and slower..any strain as in going uphill will cause more backpressue that isnt released properly because of a restricted converter..thus causing it to struggle up any grade..good luck