I have a 91 bird with the 3.1 and auto tran. and it is starting to run a bit like a dog! All was well untill i lost my mufler, not long after it started to be a dog I had the mufler replaced and still the same poor proformance. Im thinking O2 sensore or something like that but not sure. SOme times when driving if i hit the gas hard i get lots-o-black smoke like im not burning fule right or something. also somtimes when geting on the highway and i floor it its almost like its geting not enoughf fuel. im trying to decied if its time for a new car or this is something that may be easy to fix

BTW Im very much a newbie so please give me the long answer if you have one

 

Ok, welcome to the boards, first step done...step two get your car in tune, buying a new car should always be a last resort, i know of plenty of people who buy a new car, and the person who bought their old car will put two hundred bux into it, and have it runnig cherry. Ok, do a search for TOMP's Major Tuneup, then follow his list of recomendations on what to change. It's not all that extensive, but it's a good place to begin, it'll get a good portion of your engine parts running better, and eliminate other "poorly running" components. Ok, after she's tuned, then we'll move onto fixing the problem that you're getting. Smelling Gas through the exhaust would lead me to believe ur running rich, either ur getting way to much gas into the cylinders , or the gas that is getting in there is still not being burned through the combustion process. We'll work that out once it's tuned, it'll make things easier to find the actual problem.

 

I'll second above. Along with have your cat-converter checked by a exhaust shop.

If your running way rich, thats when it tends to clog the converter.

 

I didnt mention that the replacement is just a 92 firebird that is almost identical and runs well. I also have some body work to do on my curent ride (est $1400) and to trade and have the new one will only cost me $2600. The only problem is the AC on the new one and the dealer is geting it fixed as I type. So if it fixes good and if it dosent i will get it cheeper!

It isnt so much a gas smell but dark black smoke out the back that makes me think something is bad. It may be the converter but just the body work and tuen up will put me close to 2k and thats why im looking at replacement.

Thanks for the info so far!

 

now that's a much more complicated situation, so, you've got a car that needs 1500 bux in work to look decent (you said that's the work, so it's not going to be eye dropping stunning, just good..ok) Then we have the fact that the engine isn't running up to par, alright, problem number two. And we'll throw in problem three, or if you want to think of it , benefit 1. That is, you're not stuck on keeping the car (such as myself) which gives you the ability to ditch the ride, take the $$, buy ride number 2 and be happy. So, this becomes a question of your own personal desire, don't go dumping money into this car, atleast not large sums of it. However, if you do the tuneup (spend 100-150 bux) car runs good, still needs body work (or more work than u'd like to put in it) sell the car as a good running vehicle, take what you get, buy the second car. It'll look better if the car ur selling is working irght, however, if it's going to cost you an arm and a leg to get it working right, i'd advise you to not do it, also remember not to put more in that you can get back out of it. If you can sell the car for 1000 bux, and you put $500 to get it to run well, now you MUST!!! sell for 1500 in order to recover the 500 you just dumped, if you get to a point that's too high, you'll end up being another guy who's not going to ever get what he paid for a vehicle.