We've been having on-going problems with my wife's 2001 Rodeo with the 3.2 V6. It has about 95k miles on it, and the extended warranty will be expiring soon.

The power is low, especially under moderate acceleration (1/4 to 2/3 throttle - on the floor it is better, but still not like it should be), it bogs, and it sometimes surges. I checked the fuel pressure and it is 37 PSI at idle - the Haynes manual (all I could find) shows the specs as 44-55.

If I pull the vacuum hose off what I *believe* is the fuel pressure regulator (on the back of the fuel rail on the driver's side of the engine, hidden by a bracket with vacuum solenoids), the PSI jumps to 44. Pinching the return line causes the pressure to hit 70+ PSI. Using the process outlined in the Haynes manual, the problem seems to be the regulator or vacuum switching valve.

After multiple trips to the dealer, even armed with the above information, they insist nothing is wrong and the truck is running like it is supposed to. They also claim 37 PSI is within spec with the engine running. Obviously, SOMETHING is not right - moving the accelerator pedal from 1/4 to 2/3 should result in at least SOME increase in power - but I hate to start throwing parts at it.

Now, if I'm looking at what really is the fuel pressure regulator, it appears to be part of the fuel rail, and I don't see any way to separate it from the rail. Does it have to be replaced as an entire assembly, or am I looking at something else? If this isn't the regulator, where is it???? There is very little room to see the back of the engine since it's so tight against the firewall....

Thanks!