I everyone, new Third Genner here. '92 Firebird, 3.1L V6 that has been having some sluggish performance issues recently.

The car starts up just fine, and idles clean and strong. At low speeds- such as on city streets- it drives smoothly. However, on the highway, it's an enormous struggle to accelerate the car from a stop, keep it at a consistent speed, and to get the car up hills. I have to REALLY lay on the gas pedal, but I don't because I'm too afraid of pushing the car too hard.

Any ideas of what could be wrong? I suspect a dwindling fuel pump. I replaced the fuel filter, and that only helped the problem for about a week. Perhaps a distributor issue?

 

It's a v6.






















Lol jk, how's the fuel pleasure look?

 

Welcome aboard.

 

Thank you! And fuel pressure, I have not had the chance to test yet. However, I was reading about similar engine issues on the internet (I understand not always having reliable sources), and the problem my Firebird is having also sounds like a clogged cat converter. The engine runs at high RPMs without actually accelerating and just loses power with my foot on the accelerator. The fuel pump sounds fine, but haven't ruled that out yet. Anyone seen anything like this before?

 

I had this issue on a 300zx a few years ago, could only go 35-40 on the freeway at wot, as I kept driving it it kept getting slower and slower. Cut a hole right before the cat and cleared everything up! I bought because the PO said the car was on its way out and I just knew it had to be something simple. Bought the car for 300 bucks and it ended up being a great deal! I put my hand by the exhaust with it running and could barely feel anything coming out. So I'd check the cat as well.

 

Much appreciated! I'm feeling the idea of cutting the hole. (It isn't like I'd be cutting off the converter altogether, which I understand is illegal). I'll give it a try and see what it does

 

So here's an update on the situation. The car will now barely even trudge down the highway, and I finally had the chance to take apart the exhaust system and see what everything looked like.

Took a flashlight and looked into the catalytic converter, and to my upmost surprise, the cat was already gutted!!! Completely empty! So I'm going to put the exhaust system back together and see what else I can come up with.

When I turn off the car, the fuel pump sometimes whines for a long time before turning off. Is that a dying cry?

 

Also I wanted to add, the computer throws a Code 13, which is an oxygen sensor, but I doubt a simple o2 sensor would practically keep my car from barely moving down the highway.