extra credit problem

my car seems to be the most screwed up woody wagon ever to be put into existence...at least thats the way it feels. its a 92 ciera cutlass 3.1 engine. just yesterday it took me for another loop. im not sure why, but although it runs fine in idle, as soon as i put it in drive, it sounds more like a motorcycle. the engine itself shakes back and forth when its in drive. the muffler also sounds like its pushing out air a lot slower than usual..and a bit louder than usual as well, with longer pauses between each thresh of exhaust. when i bring the car to 40 mph, it doesnt accelerate unless i put a significant amount of more gas to the engine, and then it does thsi wierd thing...it feels kind of like im hitting a sidewalk...the car does a semi lurch, semi hit something at the same time......and then it will go beyond 40. the car makes a wierd grumble and kind of scratching noise when im accelerating...but shakes all the time as long as im in drive. if anyone knows what it might be...id be eternally greatful. im tryin to change the spark plugs right now...and the ones in front of the engine block are a bit corroded...but ive seen worse on better running cars...again, thanks

sounds like your cat is plugged

I had a 91 240sx had the same problem i had alittle water in my lines found that out and fixed it hey its worth a try.

take the catallytic converter out, it's probably plugged. especially if ur high millage

i totally agree, my 88 buick had the same problem but i could not get it above 20mph. but i let it go a while before that. replaced the cat, and back to normal. the sound you are hearing is the ceramic insert broken rattling around especicaly when you accellerate

I had the same type of problem with my 89 cutlass ciera. i could maybe get to 40 mph if lucky and sounded like a lawn mower. My dad found my connector wires all carboned up. Not really sure what happened to it.

I had the same type of problem with my 89 cutlass ciera. i could maybe get to 40 mph if lucky and sounded like a lawn mower. My dad found my connector wires all carboned up. Not really sure what happened to it.