Shaking and terrible acceleration!! - Page 3

sbart385 · 05-24-2009, 01:11 PM

From the bottom just above the trans you just remove 3 nuts holding on the exhaust downpipe to the exhaust manifold. Just take off those and then pull the downpipe away from the manifold then start your car. What this does is checks to see if for some reason your catalytic converter is clogged. If it is then your exhaust isnt getting out and away from the engine causing problems. It would explain the crappy acceleration.

aiixon · 05-24-2009, 01:13 PM

should i unbolt the other side of the cat too and just take the whole thing off? or just unbolt the top part of the downpipe and let it run? Is it bad if I run the car with the downpipe/cat off??

sbart385 · 05-24-2009, 06:40 PM

Just unbolt the top part and pull the downpipe away and start it up. It will be fine if you are just starting it up long enough to see if it makes a difference in the way the car runs

Pauljp · 05-24-2009, 06:47 PM

Just remember to warn your neighbors...
This is going to be loud.
If you find that it runs really well now, then it is a blockage in your exhaust somewhere, probably your cat.
The question then becomes, why did it get blocked?

aiixon · 05-25-2009, 01:42 AM

How can I tell if it runs good without driving it around though?? And how do I take it off, I can't reach it??

sbart385 · 05-26-2009, 12:32 AM

Use a couple of extensions and a deep socket. Thats how I got mine off. And even with it hanging down it wont go that far so you could drive around the block if needed.

aiixon · 05-28-2009, 06:10 PM

okay i havent taken off the downpipe yet, but ive driven my car for about 3 days since the oil and coolant change, and my SES light is no longer on and my car doesn't bog down quite as much. the engine still seems like it's not running totally right, cuz it seems a little louder than usual..

aiixon · 06-04-2009, 10:43 PM

okay back to being problematic. same thing as before, but even worse. I keep putting in more coolant but it leaks out somewhere every couple days. Also now when I'm driving it will randomly act like it's 100 years old and won't accelerate any faster and just stays a steady speed. It does this for a few minutes at a time and is becoming more and more frequent to the point that in a 15 minute drive somewhere it will do it twice on the way there for a couple minutes a piece.

sbart385 · 06-04-2009, 11:46 PM

dude check your cat.

oldschoolguy · 06-05-2009, 12:10 AM

Hi

I have an 01 GAGT. I'm not pretending to know anything about engines and such things, but last year i had to go get my intake manifold gasket replaced. My brother says its a common problems on the grand ams.(he is a mechanic) I don't know if this is relevant, but thought I'd just throw that in there. it cost me $1000 Canadian for parts and labour.

aiixon · 06-05-2009, 01:02 AM

I'm taking my cat off as soon as my friend's dad gets back in town he has a lot of tools for me to use. And when I was at his house i read my codes and I got a P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire. Forgot to mention that.

skifreak122 · 06-05-2009, 06:21 AM

If you are leaking coolant, that is not good. Where is the coolant going... Are there ever puddles under your car of coolant? How much have you had to add?

I'm afraid that if you keep trying to diagnose these problems over the net rather than getting them fixed they will lead to more serious problems....

beelzebob · 06-06-2009, 01:51 PM

Dude, I'm no mechanic but at this point with everything that you've done and with everything that everyone here has chimed in I think it would be best if you took it to a shop. seriously, things could start to get confusing at this point and that could lead to serious damage and more serious bucks to fix. It seems to me this is more serious than changing your fluids and fixing your cat. 1 other thing, gaskets in general have a tendency to go early on this engine so get higher quality (metal?) replacements installed and since this is probably going to be a big job you might as well get as many of them as possible done now to eliminate possible future issues.

Malibu Glow · 06-07-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aiixon

I'm taking my cat off as soon as my friend's dad gets back in town he has a lot of tools for me to use. And when I was at his house i read my codes and I got a P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire. Forgot to mention that.

A cylinder misfire, wonder why. Well right off the bat this tells me that either a plug wire or the coil pack is bad. More than likely the coil pack is the problem, which will have caused the engine to run poorly and eventually ruin a cat. since you've also stated you have a coolant leak as well, my suggestion for you would be to take this to a shop instead of messing with it yourself, You are not doing your Grand Am any good running it the way you have.

Grandamgtblk99 · 06-07-2009, 11:17 AM

If a coil went bad, then usually the other cylinder sharing that coil would also be misfiring.

aiixon · 06-07-2009, 02:56 PM

could it be an injector?

06-07-2009, 11:17 AM	#55
Grandamgtblk99 Burgee AKA: Allen Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Orange, Tx Age: 39 Posts: 787 Vehicle: 1999 Grand Am Gt	If a coil went bad, then usually the other cylinder sharing that coil would also be misfiring. __________________ 1999 Sc/t turbo.

05-24-2009, 01:11 PM	#41
sbart385 GAGT - Member AKA: Shane Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Aurora, Co Posts: 66 Vehicle: 1992 Acura Integra GSR	From the bottom just above the trans you just remove 3 nuts holding on the exhaust downpipe to the exhaust manifold. Just take off those and then pull the downpipe away from the manifold then start your car. What this does is checks to see if for some reason your catalytic converter is clogged. If it is then your exhaust isnt getting out and away from the engine causing problems. It would explain the crappy acceleration.

05-24-2009, 01:13 PM	#42
aiixon got ma permit! AKA: Steffan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 907 Age: 29 Posts: 830 Vehicle: 2000 GT Sedan	should i unbolt the other side of the cat too and just take the whole thing off? or just unbolt the top part of the downpipe and let it run? Is it bad if I run the car with the downpipe/cat off??

05-24-2009, 06:40 PM	#43
sbart385 GAGT - Member AKA: Shane Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Aurora, Co Posts: 66 Vehicle: 1992 Acura Integra GSR	Just unbolt the top part and pull the downpipe away and start it up. It will be fine if you are just starting it up long enough to see if it makes a difference in the way the car runs

05-24-2009, 06:47 PM	#44
Pauljp GAGT - Member AKA: Paul Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 214 Vehicle: 2003 Grand Am GT	Just remember to warn your neighbors... This is going to be loud. If you find that it runs really well now, then it is a blockage in your exhaust somewhere, probably your cat. The question then becomes, why did it get blocked?

05-25-2009, 01:42 AM	#45
aiixon got ma permit! AKA: Steffan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 907 Age: 29 Posts: 830 Vehicle: 2000 GT Sedan	How can I tell if it runs good without driving it around though?? And how do I take it off, I can't reach it??

05-26-2009, 12:32 AM	#46
sbart385 GAGT - Member AKA: Shane Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Aurora, Co Posts: 66 Vehicle: 1992 Acura Integra GSR	Use a couple of extensions and a deep socket. Thats how I got mine off. And even with it hanging down it wont go that far so you could drive around the block if needed.

05-28-2009, 06:10 PM	#47
aiixon got ma permit! AKA: Steffan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 907 Age: 29 Posts: 830 Vehicle: 2000 GT Sedan	okay i havent taken off the downpipe yet, but ive driven my car for about 3 days since the oil and coolant change, and my SES light is no longer on and my car doesn't bog down quite as much. the engine still seems like it's not running totally right, cuz it seems a little louder than usual..

06-04-2009, 10:43 PM	#48
aiixon got ma permit! AKA: Steffan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 907 Age: 29 Posts: 830 Vehicle: 2000 GT Sedan	okay back to being problematic. same thing as before, but even worse. I keep putting in more coolant but it leaks out somewhere every couple days. Also now when I'm driving it will randomly act like it's 100 years old and won't accelerate any faster and just stays a steady speed. It does this for a few minutes at a time and is becoming more and more frequent to the point that in a 15 minute drive somewhere it will do it twice on the way there for a couple minutes a piece.

06-04-2009, 11:46 PM	#49
sbart385 GAGT - Member AKA: Shane Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Aurora, Co Posts: 66 Vehicle: 1992 Acura Integra GSR	dude check your cat.

06-05-2009, 12:10 AM	#50
oldschoolguy noob AKA: huh?? Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: BC Canada Posts: 510 Vehicle: '01 Grand Am	Hi I have an 01 GAGT. I'm not pretending to know anything about engines and such things, but last year i had to go get my intake manifold gasket replaced. My brother says its a common problems on the grand ams.(he is a mechanic) I don't know if this is relevant, but thought I'd just throw that in there. it cost me $1000 Canadian for parts and labour.

06-05-2009, 01:02 AM	#51
aiixon got ma permit! AKA: Steffan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 907 Age: 29 Posts: 830 Vehicle: 2000 GT Sedan	I'm taking my cat off as soon as my friend's dad gets back in town he has a lot of tools for me to use. And when I was at his house i read my codes and I got a P0301 - Cylinder 1 Misfire. Forgot to mention that.

06-05-2009, 06:21 AM	#52
skifreak122 GAGT - Member AKA: Mitch Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 170 Vehicle: 01 GT coupe	If you are leaking coolant, that is not good. Where is the coolant going... Are there ever puddles under your car of coolant? How much have you had to add? I'm afraid that if you keep trying to diagnose these problems over the net rather than getting them fixed they will lead to more serious problems....

06-06-2009, 01:51 PM	#53
beelzebob 18 wheelin' bob AKA: bob Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: staten island new york Posts: 66 Vehicle: 2000 grand am gt sedan	Dude, I'm no mechanic but at this point with everything that you've done and with everything that everyone here has chimed in I think it would be best if you took it to a shop. seriously, things could start to get confusing at this point and that could lead to serious damage and more serious bucks to fix. It seems to me this is more serious than changing your fluids and fixing your cat. 1 other thing, gaskets in general have a tendency to go early on this engine so get higher quality (metal?) replacements installed and since this is probably going to be a big job you might as well get as many of them as possible done now to eliminate possible future issues.

06-07-2009, 02:56 PM	#56
aiixon got ma permit! AKA: Steffan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 907 Age: 29 Posts: 830 Vehicle: 2000 GT Sedan	could it be an injector?