Maybe you guys can help me out, this has never happened to me before so it threw me off.

I have a 97 del sol si (d16y8). I just got off of work earlier and as I was a mile away from my exit, my car started decelerating from 70 to 60 to 40 and my brakes were hard, but my accelerator became really soft. I pressed on it, the engine roared, but barely pushed. My car didn't overheat but it gave off a weird smell. So I tried to pull into the gas station. Once I turned off the car, the car made a weird sound.... like its burning something off. I turned it back on and forced my car to move.... it went down the block to 40 and started to decelerate again. So I pulled off to the side and turned the car off. I start the car up again... drove off... and its fine. Im so confused. Im scared it'll happen again. Has anyone had this experience?

 

Bump

 

I'd start with ignition and fuel system, my gut says fuel pump, but go over the alternator, battery, etc. to be sure.


I support the claim that keeping over half a tank helps ease the wear on the brushes in the pump motor.

 

Does it smell like clutch? (similar to overheated brakes)

 

Gas was full.
I think my brothers beamers fuel pump went out before, so I don't think that was it
because I explained the story to him and he was puzzled.

 

It smelled toasty.
opening the hood, I couldn't see what was wrong.
It just had this nasty toasty smell.

 

Update: car drives fine now... low clutch master cylinder fluid... no leaks under clutch pedal. Clutch pedal is normal. Any ideas?