'93 sunbird sputtering and rough driving

[stresstime]

I have a '93 sunbird, 4cyl 2.0L with OHC. I have recently had problems with it running really rough, sputtering and shaking violently on acceleration and it wont get past 20mph sometimes. I have horrible gas mileage- I drive a total of 6 miles to work and back and it takes $30 a week in gas. I took it to a mechanic and they replaced the O2 sensor and it fixed it for about a week. Then the same symptoms, starting out hardly sputtering at all and gradually building up to the symptoms I mentioned at the beginning of this message. I took it back to the mechanic and he replaced the 02 sensor again with the excuse that he must have used a bad part. Again a week later the same thing happened. My husband took the sensor off completely and I was able to drive it for a couple of weeks but it acted as if I were pushing on the gas pedal and letting off repeatedly even though I wasn't. Then it got worse so he managed to put another sensor on just so I could drive to work for another week. When it messed up and he took it off I can't even keep it running. It cuts off not long after I start it and I can't even move and inch. (He doesn't know anything about the newer car motors, only the older ones) He did manage to change the MAP sensor also but it didn't help. I took it yesterday to a different mechanic and he says it's either the fuel pump relay or something to do with the timing belt but I had a new timing belt put on in February when I had my water pump replaced. I need a second opinion on what this mechanic says because I don't want to pay another hundred and fifty dollars or more just to drive it for a week. The mechanics are fixing the result of the problem but they aren't finding the cause! What in the world makes a car blow so many 02 sensors? I can't even get tags because it wont pass emissions and they went out in April! Thanks in advance.

[bboypolo]

Sorry for the belated response but i recently bought a red 93 Sunbird and have done some research (after overpaying for the car). You might want to get it towed to a Pontiac Dealership or the dealership which sold you the car once you finish looking at www.nhtsa.dot.gov. In summary there is a "VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL" recall which could be the lack of acceleration. I have similar shaking (but i wouldnt describe it as "violent") at 55 mph and 75 mph but that could be due to my alignment. And it appears that I too have below normal gas milage partly due to maybe the recall. Another simple help would be to check the air filter since "a clogged air filter alone can cause up to a 10 percent increase in fuel consumption" (Consumer Reports). Oh and with your mechanic problem, i suggest that you look at some automotive laws to get some of your money back since the repeated visits obviously did not fix your problem. A problem that is THEIR JOB to fix. Next advise, please just take one day to try to find a respectable mechanic, one that has updated certifications (make sure it is AAA-aproved in www.aaa.com along with the your local Better Business Bureau for complaints) and shop around for their estimate prices (there are a lot of unecessary things that the mechanics charge that would not alleviate your problem) making sure they stick to the manufacturer’s recommended services. Whew, hope that can help you out even just a little bit.
Good Luck.