Newbie with a ?

is there a ticking from under the hood or a knocking? if not then I would say a plugged cat. converter. what is the mileage? when was your last tune-up?

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You can and only should confirm a clogged cat with a backpressure tester....

If the cat is clogged, something causes that, and it must be corrected before it ruins another cat (and it will in short order).

A couple of things on the 3.1:

1) Notorious intake gasket leaker 2) EGR valve and its ports are known to clog up rather quickly. That year has an electronic valve from what I remember. Take it off, clean it, clean all the ports and install an aftermarket gasket with the built in screen (any parts store will have it).

The real problem is the design of the EGR passages and how they clog, but you're not changing that :).

As noted, a complete servicing would be a start such as all filters and secondary ignition parts.

Start there. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

Has it set any codes? (check engine light?) Anything else broken like the AC? Anything done to it recently? Did it just start doing it or has it been slowly getting worse?

It has well over 200k on it and the kid that had it before me did not take care of the vitals (oil for an example). The check engine light has not come on but he also had a cluster f*ck under the dash with the wires and such (for the "thumping stereo". That may be the reason it hasn't come on? It ran pretty well when I first bought it but here recently it has just become worse. I'm going to check the suggestions you guys have made. Thanks :)

oh, the ac does not work and there hasn't been anything done to it lately.

I just posted about a similar problem. If there is a ticking from under the hood, what would that indicate? I have power loss at low speeds, but not as noticeable (although still a problem at 80 mph on I-10 when going up a hill). But the ticking (almost like a diesel sound, but not quite.) Thanks

-Ben

does it make the ticking noise when the car is at idle speed? only under load? all the time the car is running?

Only when I accelerate

-Ben

If it only ticks under load, then odds are it's an exhaust leak. A lifter will tick constantly, even during deceleration. - Gary

Yup, I agree. Sounds like an exhuast leak. Joe--ASE Certified Parts Specialist & 10th Ann.Club Tech Director '80 Carousel Red Turbo T/A, 26k orig. '79 "Y89" 400/4 speed 10th Ann. T/A, 57k orig '84 Olds 88 Royale Bgm 2 dr, 307 "Rocket" (lol), 141k and still going.... '80 T/A project car...

"Bigjfig"

I agree too. to find it you can usually spot it by carbon build up around the leak. check over your exhaust system and look for black spots.

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Does an exhaust leak affect performance (like robbing me of power during uphill accel and not allowing my car to start reliably/stalling when I: start my car, shift it into reverse, reverse, and then shift into first?)

-Ben

"FSUguy"

it can cause the exhaust sensors to malfunction. thus causing loss of power.

Could also check your plug wires... might be arc-ing.

Just my .02 cents