My 98 420A will start just fine, will idle for hours on end, and for the most part is able to be revved up to 5000+ RPM. The problem is when I put the car in gear and go to drive the engine dies at random times. Sometimes this is right away. Sometimes it is 30 seconds later At this point it will take a minute to 5 minutes of the car sitting to start again. If I don't let the car sit it will crank over but never start. It gets spark. If I let the car sit for a minute or more it will start right up, idle without dying, and able to blip the throttle no problem (95% of the time). However, put it in gear, let out the clutch and the car might run for 30 seconds or a minute and then die.

I have a new coil pack, new wires, newer plugs (still look good). Fresh tank of gas, heet in the gas. I was able to drive a mile to the gas station today to put gas in it. I would make it 100 yards or so, car dies, I wait 3 minutes start it, drive 100 yards and die. My thought was if I got a new tank of gas maybe that would solve some issues. No go.

Buddy comes up and towes me home. During this time I had the car running at idle in neutral while he pulled me. Car did not die once.

I rented a code scanner from AutoZone and the car does not see any codes.

I am wanting to replace my fuel filter but it appears it is under the tank not on the firewall like all the manuals and how-tos I have seen. Anyone have a manual/reference of part numbers, etc. for the cars where the pump and filter are under the tank. My fuel pump is not accessible from underneath my rear seat. I do not have fuel lines going in if I remove the cover under my rear seat.

Thanks in advance

This could be a stretch, but maybe its an IAC issue? Try adjusting the idle stop screw to open up the TB butterfly plate a little more.

Although, if it was an IAC issue it would probably throw a code..just thinking out loud a little here.

I was having tunnel vision trying to find the filter that I overlooked the pump off to the side. Duh! Anyone know if the filter is under the tank and how to get it off? It is not on the firewall like the tutorials I have seen.

I am thinking I will proceed in the following until one of them works.
1.Replace fuel filter.
2.Have fuel pressure checked under load
3.Start replacing vacuum hoses
4.Start replacing sensors in this order
-Idle Control Valve
-Cam Position sensor
-MAP Sensor
-Crank Shaft Sensor
4.Replace fuel pump

My biggest challenge is how to find how to get the fuel filter off.

Also, does this car have a regulator? I noticed something else near the tank. What would that be?

The stock regulator and fuel filter are both under the car near the fuel tank on the passenger side of the vehicle. The can be taken off easily with an open end wrench.

Sounds to me like youre getting fuel, just not enough of it. It has enough to idle but not accelerate. Did this happen out of the blue or did the car sit for a period of time? I would suspect a clogged fuel filter, possibly a bad FPR or Fuel Pump, but thats out there.

The car did sit for awhile. I am contemplating replacing pump, regulator, and filter all at once. Any tests I can do on the pump or regulator to tell? I am not sure if I would get a good reading from a pressure test or would I? The car just dies. I am researching on seeing if I can test the pump.

I would start with the cheap and easy stuff first. Just do the filter and see what that does if its a no go do the regulator and see where that gets you.

This isn't the guy from craigslist I talked to on the phone awhile back about your crank sensor is it?

Nope not me. Have an appointment today for the filter. I can't get the car up enough to get to it myself.

All you need is a normal floor jack...

Fuel filter did not do it. Car ran good for about 8 miles. Got it up past 80 and was running fine. Mile 9 it died and would do same stuff until I was able to get it home. I let it set for a minute or two and it will start. Run at idle no problem. Put in gear and go down the road. Maybe a minute or maybe less and it cuts out and dies.

Going to replace the TPS next as I have one off a salvage car. After that it will be a new Fuel pressure regulator and maybe a fuel pump from another salvage car.

Still no check engine light or error codes.