Loosing power, any ideas?

[phoenix6]

OK past few days, car has been sluggish, not stuttering but, just not powerful at all. I can step on it and it doesnt feel like anything really. It kinda feels like theres some airways constricted, is this wat a clogged cat feels like? Any help would be appreciated...

[F1GT]

What kind of maintenance have you done on your car?
I would suspect the fuel filter if you haven't done that.

[phoenix6]

I just did that a week or so ago, it was runnin great for a few days, now it just feels like somethings clogged.

[camaroincal]

do you have an SES light on?

[phoenix6]

Nope, no SES light

[hockeyman]

Are you sure someone didn't pour somthing into your gas tank and it re-clogged the fuel filter? Because you said it ran great after you replaced it, now it's back to running like crap again.

[F1GT]

Try a bottle of Techron or Gumout's Regane.

If your cat is clogged, you will notice the car feels kinda "hot" and has a different tone. If you place your hand over the tip you can feel that there is less exhaust coming out.

Also, how many miles you got? A4? What else have you done?

[phoenix6]

Originally posted by hockeyman:
Are you sure someone didn't pour somthing into your gas tank and it re-clogged the fuel filter? Because you said it ran great after you replaced it, now it's back to running like crap again.

Not again, it ran just OK b4, great after the filter, now, its like ****.


sorry, 78,600
Manual

New spark plugs and ignition wires, fuel filter, K&N(cleaned 3 weeks ago), stock whisperlid mod, home depot style smooth bellow, needs an oil change soon, new tranny fluid (penzoil synchromesh).

Im gonna change the oil out next week, see if that fixes anything. The car does "feel" a lil hot lately. It really picks its moments, most of the time lately, runs like ****, every so often times I drive Ill get a lil more out of it. Not to mention my post in drivetrain about my clutch possibly going out, shifting SUCKS lately.

[F1GT]

Just read your other post about the clutch problem and definitely sounds like you need a new clutch. I suggest you do the rear main seal while you are at it. As I recall it cost ~$5. I had to change mine a couple of yrs back and since I was changing it, I changed my clutch too. Throw out, pilot, and pressure plate.

[phoenix6]

Rear main seal? U mean for the rear end where the gears and **** are?

I wanna do the clutch install myself, save some cash. Any guides anywhere on this stuff?

[BigBlue]

hmm, have you changed gas stations? Sometimes its the small things that count with your car. I only use one brand of gas...for some reason my car pukes other brands up [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[phoenix6]

Ive been on the same place since I got it, theres a shell station right next to my house, pretty convienient, that would SUCK if that was the prob. Im looking into a new fuel pump right now, deciding if I should install myself or not.

[F1GT]

Originally posted by phoenix6:
Rear main seal? U mean for the rear end where the gears and **** are?

I wanna do the clutch install myself, save some cash. Any guides anywhere on this stuff?

The rear main seal on the rear end of the block. When you drop your tranny, you will see it. It's one of our main leaky areas. If yours is not leaking, it will. Unless you haven't looked under there. It will drip onto the horizontal part of the Y-pipe. Buy a couple of gallons of coolant and some distilled water, cuz it will be pouring out. Then you have to change your oil afterwards, as it contaminates the motor oil. Have fun! :D


Edit: Here is a clutch install, for a V8, ours should be pretty much the same:
http://www.installuniversity.com/ins...ch_install.htm

[ March 15, 2005, 07:22 PM: Message edited by: F1GT ]

[phoenix6]

Man thats a *****. Id be eased a lil if someone could point me in the direction of an attachment for my floor jack to get a better hold of my transmission, the lil circular end isnt big enough obviously.

[99firebird44]

I had the exact same problem!!! My firebird was really sluggish and I would step on the gas but the car had no power. The acceleration sucked *** and so did going uphill. I got everything checked out, and I had a rusted catalytic converter that was restricting my exhaust flow. The good news is that if your car is under 80,000 miles, it won't cost you a dime because the cat is under factory warranty and GM is required to fix it. I had mine fixed and it's running better than before. It also sounds much nicer too. I'd do this first because you can get a new cat for free.