First let me say I don't like these things! It's not my vehicle but I'm letting a friend drive my vehicle until I get this pos going again.
Here's the problem, it starts fine and idles but if you give it any gas at all it's as if you turned the key off. I mean no sputtering, spitting, etc. Let off the gas and it comes back to idle. I asked if this was all of a sudden or gradual and her reply was it seems to have been losing power lately but now it's to this point. I want MY vehicle back! :-)
I did check fuel pressure and it's actually a little high. I don't have the info in front of me at the moment but believe it should be around 36 psi, unplug the fuel regulator and it should go to 44 psi. It's running about 44 psi with the regulator vacuum line connected. I don't know or understand if this high fuel pressure is an issue, I had expected (and hoped) it would be low fuel pressure.
Any thoughts? My next thought is to do a vacuum check and see if maybe it's a plugged cat. She bought this bug used against my advice and everything I've had to do to it the past few years it's obvious a previous owner has been there before me due to broken tabs, incorrect clamps, etc.