Thread: I have a feeling this can't be good..

So...its been a while since I last posted on here with problems with my grand prix..

I believe I fixed the radiator issue with it leaking coolant. It doesn't leak coolant anymore.

First things first; it is a 1997 Grand Prix SE; 3.8L 3800 Series II V6, 4 speed auto.

Heres the problems as of now:

It sounds noticably louder..I pin pointed the noise level increase to around the muffler area. I think the catalytic converter MAY be out, but i'm not sure. The car eats coolant and runs hot after driving for a while. It will run great when its cold, and then when it warms up the car begins to run poor with a popping sound at idle from the exhaust. Most of the time when I go up hills, it looses power (the rpms go up like the trans is slipping) and sometimes the check engine light flashes..a TERRIBLE smell enters the car, and the engine sounds like a German WWII warplane when this happens... The check engine light, in fact, is on all the time now. It burns transmission fluid somewhere by the tranny dipstick and leaks transmission fluid by the tranny oil cooler line. The car has a LOT of miles on it..242,513 miles on it to be exact. What should I do?? I know I need to take it in to get looked at...im just trying to see if its too much of a hassle. I'm trying to sell it right now for $500...it has a few other problems like rust on the side skirts, a dented front left fender...Im basically trying to see if I should fix it and keep it or sell it as is =[

*Oh, one other thing..when I go into a turn, the car acts like the transmission is slipping and will give me NO power what-so-ever. What would be causing that??

sounds like the cat is clogged

ok, so the cat is causing the poor running, smell, and exhaust popping, and (overheating?)...but what about when it turns and just revs the engine?...

*Edit* btw- it has a gassy smell at idle like its running rich...

i would say so, the car cant get the exhaust out, so its making no backpressure. id say go have it replaced

ah...ok. well, the county I live in doesn't have emissions, so would it be possible to just gut it or run a straight pipe?

another thing i forgot to mention, when I make a tight turn, the car makes terrible creaking and cracking sounds from the wheel area..

sure cut the cat off and have a pipe welded in its place, but you will set off the check engine light because the rear o2 will sense that there is no cat there. you can buy a downpipe from ZZP and the o2 simulator if you wish. i dunno how much money you wanna put into the car

Originally Posted by Jakegday

zzp doesnt sell o2 simulators anymore. 3800performance.com does though.

a simple test you could do would be to disconnect your exhaust pipe from your exhaust manifold. its only 2 bolts, but they will be the 2 hardest bolts in your life. if it runs great after youve disconnected the exhaust pipe with the cat, you'll know the problem is somewhere in there....

also, i dont believe a bat cat will cause terrible noises while making tight turns. that sounds like it could be a CV shaft. do you feel anything when this happens? thud? vibration?

no thuds or vibrations, it just sounds like a cracking sound when I'm making a tight turn...I had a few friends look at it and one was in the car when I drove it and he thought it was the CV..

I'll take a look at the cat today..my friend has a some ramps so I can go under the car.