my aurora stalled

[ddesai74]

I was coming home from work today as usual and for the first time I experienced this problem. In slow moving traffic the car started to hesitate and eventually shut off after 10 seconds. Tried to turn it back on and it would just crank. Waited about 2 minutes and it started right up. Same thing happend 3 miles later. During the hesitation period if the gas padal was pressed nothing happened it continued to jerk as if I wasn't pressing the gas at all. Can it be the fuel filter or fuel pump? As always thanks for the help in advance.

[tjm]

any check engine light?

typically, fuel or vacuum issues will not set the CE/SES light unless severe

lotsa questions for ya:
last tune up plugs and wires
last fuel filter (do this first)
have you ever serviced your EGR valve (do all the easy stuff and do this 2nd)
ever replaced the fuel pressure regulator
air filter good?
PCV valve and all vac tubes

many possibilities - the more info the better

[ddesai74]

Originally Posted by tjm

any check engine light?

typically, fuel or vacuum issues will not set the CE/SES light unless severe

lotsa questions for ya:
last tune up plugs and wires
last fuel filter (do this first)
have you ever serviced your EGR valve (do all the easy stuff and do this 2nd)
ever replaced the fuel pressure regulator
air filter good?
PCV valve and all vac tubes

many possibilities - the more info the better

No check engine light.
Last tune was about 10K miles ago. Bosch quad fire Spark plugs used. New wires.
Fuel filter has NOT been replaced....Have you done this? Is it simple to do?
No EGR valve serviced and fuel pressure regulator has never been changed.
PCV valve was changed during tune up. other vac tubes seem fine to me.

Thanks for the help.

[tjm]

ok - lets keep it cheap and easy first:

Replace the fuel filter - its located just in front of the rear drivers side wheel and is easy to change as long as its not rusted on like mine was at 195,000 mile (new england salty winters). you WILL get gas on you even after relieving pressure.

The fuel pressure regulator would be the next thing as they are notorious for causing some of the issues you have encountered like long crank time and inconsistent idle. An easy check is to pull the vac line ans see if it is damp with fuel. Although an internal failure may not give this tell-tail sing, this is usually the case. Also easy to do; located at the end of the fuel rail with a single vac line coming out of it. check here for more info: http://www.howardm.net/dred98/fpr.php

The EGR valve should stay closed at low rpm and if stuck open can also cause the drivability problems you have. Also easy to do but you will need a new gasket if you want to try just cleaning. Look here for more info: http://www.howardm.net/dred98/egr.php

The last thing I would look at would be the fuel pump mainly because of its cost. At about $400 its easy enough to do as well as long as you have the tool to get the retaining ring off the top of the tank. remove trunk carpet and access panel to service.