Hissing and NO power!

[rooshooter]

My 1997 V6 Automatic Isuzu Rodeo is making a hissing sound on acceleration and has no power in higher gears. Any hill at highway speeds requires that I stomp on the gas pedal to get the car to drop into “passing gear” just to maintain speed. As a result fuel economy is shot. 200-225 miles on a tank MAX.

[rodeo02]

You may have a plugged catalytic converter causing excessive back-pressure in the exhaust system. Exhaust will "hiss" out of anywhere it can leak from when the cat plugs. This kills power & economy as well.
G/luck
Joel

[rooshooter]

Is the catalytic converter something I can check/replace on my own? My CEL has also been on for about a year, two trips to the repair shop has cost me over $1500 to replace all the sensors and some kind of coil... I'm car illiterate. So thanks for the help.

[rodeo02]

Cat replacement can be a DIY job, but IMHO- you are better off getting a good independant exhaust shop to do the work for you. I don't remember for sure, but you may have 2 catalytic converters on the 1997. They typically are only good for around 100Kmi anyway. Your CEL has been on for OVER A YEAR!!! go to autozone to get the code(s) read for free, or better yet, invest $40 in a cheap OBDII code reader so you can read the codes yourself. Always start by reading the codes!! G/luck
Joel

[surferfletch]

It's important to get the codes checked quickly. It could be warning you that the fuel/air mix has been altered. Running your vehicle for a long time this way can hasten the death of your catalytic converter, which prevents unburned hydrocarbons from going out your tailpipe.

[rooshooter]

Some one has also suggested that I may be low on transmission fluid. however I have read that the 97 shouldn't need transmission service?

Any Ideas?

[surferfletch]

I have the '97 with the V6 and it certainly does require regular tranny fluid changes with an occasional tranny fluid filter change.