Re: 1990 Grand Am, performance problem -- exhaust, MAS?

<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Hello everyone,
> I have a 1990 Grand Am (tech 4 2.5L), it runs, but doesn't accellerate
right
> any more, and the gas milage is getting bad.  It seems like an exhaust
> problem, and I'm suspecting the catalytic converter, or the MAS (Mass
> Airflow Sensor).  I tried taking the catalytic converter off to see how it
> would run without it (isolate the problem before I shell out $70), but the
> bolts are rusted on.  The exhaust pipe does change the airflow while the
car
> is just sitting there, and there's black stuff in the tailpipe.  My car
> doesn't burn oil, just had the sparkplugs, airfilter changed, and the oil
> was changed last month too, but it's black again.
>
Why an exhaust problem? As long as it doesn't sound loud, you don't have a
leak and your exhaust does what it's supposed to do. A bath catalyc
converter would harm the environment but not your performance. BTW try to
find a car over 10 years old without carbon (black stuff) in the exhaust
pipe.
The oil gets black pretty quick, check if it still feels smooth and slimy.
Don't expect a problem here.

> The performance actually goes up and down, sometimes while I'm driving, it
> will run well, sometimes it's in the gutter.  I've also noticed a little
bit
> of clicking, when I rev the engine in neutral, and it almost stalls if I
rev
> it up in neutral, and then take my foot off.
>
I have the same car + engine ('91) and similar problems, poor accelaration
with cold engine. I blame it on the fuel injector, will throw in a bottle of
injector cleaner next time I fill up, and see what it does.

PS How many miles? Sounds like an old engine.