hesitation and black smoke

[Tom94gaGT]

ok, I think my car is running rich. when i am accelerating is boggs out around 2k rpm but if i step on it it shoots right up and moves like it should. I also experience problems when crusing on teh highway and it starts to bogg out, then when floor it alot of black smoke comes out of the tail pipes, it smell like gas and skunk combined. also after about 20 min of driving when this hapens the service engine light comes on.

The strange thing about this problem is that it is very irregularly occuring, it only happens every once every few weeks and once it starts it will clear up in about a day or so.

I was wondering if anyone had had this problem before and if so how was it fixed. also is there anywhere where i can get the codes checked for free?

[Tom94gaGT]

forgot to mention, its a 3.1 v6

i already changed the plugs, wires, air filter, and fuel filter about a month ago

[Tom94gaGT]

oh yea .. and im getting horrible gas milage, maybe 12 mpg's!!

[camarols1]

u can get ur codes pulled from ne local autozone they will give u a print out of possibilities and it sounds like u have a definate fuel problem i havnt experienced this but i did have a camaro that the fuel pump went out in and it was doing about the same thing it would bog down butthen die

[GAfedup]

I would have the catalytic converter checked out.

[GTP Dad]

Check the O2 sensors, they may not be reading correctly and are sending a signal to the computer telling it that you need more fuel when you really don't. If you have the codes pulled from the computer that should tell you exactly where the problem is.

[Forkliftguy]

You also forget to mention how many miles this motor has. I'm guessing pretty high... Does it burn a lot of oil?

[Slade901]

More than likely your fuel pressure regulator diaphragm has ruptured. If that ruptured then the vacuum hose connected to the fuel pressure regulator will be sucking in lots of excess fuel to your intake and most of them will not be burned during combustion process because air to fuel ratio is not correct and it ends up in the catalytic converter and being burned and so black smoke. It will eventually kill or plugged up your catalytic converter.

To verify if your fuel pressure regulator diaphragm has ruptured, run your vehicle for a while and then remove the vacuum hose connecting to the fuel pressure regulator and see if there is a sign of fuel in the vacuum line. If it does then it is time to replace the fuel pressure regulator.