Big Problem

I have a 97 Grand Prix GT, with 157k miles. I drove a long ways yesterday, and all of a sudden my car starts acting funny. It won't accelerate when in drive facter than a go-cart, yet in reverse still full speed. Whatever it is also causes my engine to get over heated quick. Anyone know what's wrong?

It sounds like the transmission may be going bad. If the car will rev but will not move it is usually transmission related. The engine will get hot since it is trying to move the car but nothing is happening. Take the car to a tranny shop and get it diagnosed. Also, did you check the transmission fluid?

Well that's what I was thinking too really, but it's not that it's reving like normal but not moving as fast, it's almost like the brake is stuck, kinda like that.

cat converter? If you can, try and remove the pre cat O2 sensor from the exhaust manifold and drive it around the block like that to see if it accellerates like normal

How do I do that

the pre-cat O2 sensor is located between the back cylider head and the firewall. They are sort of hard to get at, and sometimes are easier to remove with the exhaust system hot. Just becareful to not rip the threads out of the exhaust manifold.

Might be easier to just rent a vacuum guage from a place like autozone. Hook it up, and observe engine vacuum at 2000 rpm. I'm not sure what it should be (18 inches?) but it should stay and not drop off. If it drops as your holding the rpms up, you have a clogged cat converter.