Some of the Brickboarders asked me to follow up on original post below once fixed. Car was towed to Indy shop have used before. Diagnosis: Valve timing was off.

I had changed the timing belt two months prior; clocked 2000 miles or so since. Recent drive of 400+ miles at 70-75 mph all day long to deliver car back to daughter. Apparently the timing belt skipped a tooth at some point after she's had the car back and of course this affected the valve timing. I'd say the learning point of this episode is to be sure to adjust the tension of a new belt after a few hundred miles. I was remiss in not doing so! Simple procedure, just never did it in the process of trading cars (have my 245Ti back!).

Cat checks OK, as does fuel delivery/injection.

Thanks for the advice and support -- car is back on the road and hopefully end of this chapter! Hindsight may be 20/20, but had me stumped at the time.

Robert

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daughter's 88 245 DL; 238K miles; always has had good maintenance... trying to diagnose her troubles today over the phone while she's located at other end of the state (CA).

Symptom: Loses power at higher speeds (40-60). Has gradually worsened. Problem seems to set in after car has accelerated and is at sustained speed. Now, she's afraid to take it anywhere, fearing Murphy will set in at worst moment, e.g. nowhere to pull over if/when it stalls on freeway or a bridge.

- Starts/idles fine, warm or cold
- runs OK around the neighborhood
- Exhaust seems to be flowing freely out the tail pipe (at idle)
- No shakes, missing, screeching, squeals or buzzing sounds, "it just loses power and won't go".
- Fluids, wiring and hoses look fine (me over the phone, prompting her visual inspection at engine bay check points)

My thoughts on what it may be (almost as if it's running out of gas):

- Failing fuel pump relay
- Fuel filter
- plugged cat (original)

Any other thoughts, like failing AMM or stuck airbox thermostat?

The 88 has the infamous 25 amp blade fuse... mounted on the fender... could it contribute or is that fuse a go/no go situation? (I havent asked her to check that, yet)

Thanks for any troubleshooting ideas.

Robert