I went to check the timing on my car today. Hooked up the timing light and turned on car. The reading was at 10 degrees. This is BEFORE i disconnected the EST wire. With the wire disconnected the reading stayed the same. I swear last time I checked my timing it was in the low 20 degrees before unhooking the wire. What did i miss here?

 

Why was checking timing necessary?

 

because car is running like sheit

 

Unless the toothfairy changed something, start with the basics. Tune-up!

 

Plugs are new, injectors are new, fpr is new, like I said, timing is not changing even when the wire is disconnected.

 

IF then, the car performs well, I BELIEVE no true need to worry!

 

but the car is NOT performing well. Feels very sluggish. The cat is not plugged but it feels sluggish

 

Don't laugh at this
My Cat broke up & blocked my MUFFLER AT THE ENTERANCE. IT travelled down the intermediate pipe to the muffler neck in beginning. I replaced muffler. Still not replaced the Cat, yet.
How was this discovered?
Replaced muffler & there was the Cat Convertor. All of it blocking muffler flow! ONLY WAY THIS WAS KNOWN WAS TO DROP MUFFLER.
HOPE THIS IS A CLUE!
Yes, I did regain good amount of pep after this mission!

 

Already had the muffler off to replace the exhaust pipe before muffler and after cat. Cat was not broken.

 

Have you checked how much slack in timing chain?
17mm socket on crank bolt, pop off distb. cap, move the crank (using breaker bar) and see how much balancer movement necessary to move the rotor.
Beyond that you do have an old engine and it could be that time.
What are the running temps?
If consistantly high, it could be that time.