Hey folks, dumb question here!

I can't seem to locate the air filter on a 92 3.1L Firebird auto. Haynes manual says it's on the right of the radiator, and I understand that it's a circular air filter. Any insight as to how to pinpoint it?

Just to summarize, I'm checking to see if the engine is being choked of air, since I am having acceleration and power problems, (sluggish acceleration, bogging, foul-smelling exhaust). I've replaced the fuel filter, spark plugs, ignition coil, distributor cap and rotor head. Car has 218,xxx miles.
Oh, and I found the catalytic converter is completely empty of the "honeycomb".

Thanks!!!

 

Haynes is backwards. If you're looking at the engine from the front of the car, the air filter can and charcoal canister are ON THE LEFT. The BATTERY is on the right (in a Bird, some Camaros are on the left). The air filter is in the can that is connected to the upper intake by the long black plastic tube. You need to disconnect the tube to get at the filter can.

Oh, and check the fuel pressure if possible. Too high fuel pressure also causes those issues as well as a leaking fuel pressure regulator, which dumps fuel right into the intake.

 

Was at the yard today and thought of your question. It's circled in red.

 

The right & left sides of a vehicle are from the perspective of when sitting in the car. So the right side is the passenger side (non-British countries).

RBob.

 

Greatly appreciate everyone's insight! Going to give the filter a look first thing in the A.M. and follow up.

 

So I took off the top to the air filter canister, and the filter looks brand new. (It was put on by the previous owner no doubt; I bought the car in September). I'm going to try and see if I can get my hands on a fuel pressure gauge somehow and test that method next. I'm hoping I'm not shooting aimlessly at the matter, though I'm rather lost as to what the issue could be?

 

If the foul smelling exhaust is in reference to a raw fuel smell (indicating running rich) a fuel pressure check may yield an answer . Also , you might try disconnecting the vacuum line from the fuel pressure regulator and give it a sniff for fuel . The regulator is a rubber diaphragm device and thus a common failure point causing rich running . If it fails , it allows raw fuel into the vacuum port that normally supplies it with it's vacuum needed to function .

Good Luck

 

My V6 3.1 was doing the same thing. Turned out to be a leaking fuel pressure regulator and bad injectors. Disconnect the vacuum hose that goes to the fuel pressure regulator while the engine is running. Give it a minute or two. If the FPR is leaking it will start dripping gas. Also check the ohms on your fuel injectors to ensure they are within specs. If not, replace them. I got mine from SouthBay. Also check your hoses for vacuum leaks. I replaced all of mine. Good luck.

 

I really appreciate everybody's help with this! I wanted to post a development in the situation.

I have yet to get hold of a fuel pressure gauge, though I was driving on an hour-long trip (one-way) today. Of course the car is still having the acceleration and speed issues. Though today, the CEL came on for about 30 seconds, then turned off and never came back on. Checked the code when I was stopped, and I got a 24. (There were 24 successive quick-flashes in a row).

24 is the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) sensor code, which goes right along with the problems I've been having recently. I found a list of the problems associated with a 24 here:

http://www.carsdirect.com/car-repair...e-speed-sensor

Sorry about this being a long post. Though I couldn't help but wonder if this would trigger anyone else's curiousity?