I know this is a Camaro forum but I have a general car question...

My camaro died today (engine would rev and shift, but there was no power as you hit the throttle....so basically I'm flooring it, it's in 3rd at 3k and rising and I'm still doing 40mph) I opened the hood up and smoke is coming from the left side of the block and I see a red "glow" (it was night) it looked like metal that was so hot it was glowing red....it was idling so I immediately shut the car off up on seeing that, I tried to look with a flashlight as to what was glowing red but I couldn't find it...

So anyways, i had to use my mom's 2000 dodge intrepid...standard v6....having thought about it i realized I have never tried a burnout with either my moms intrepid or my dads cavalier, so i decided to do one. I hold the brake, and I hit the gas.....wow...the engine revs, climbs....1500rpm, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100....etc...wow the car doesn't budge, I hold the gas for like 3-5 seconds, the car isn't moving, the brakes are holding the car...

now, this may be a dumb question but why couldn't i do a burnout? was the engine so weak it couldn't produce enough torque to outwork the brakes? (engine is like in the 160-180HP range) i have no idea how it works....all "newer" cars are 4 wheel disc brake right? so like, on my camaro when i do a burnout my front brakes hold the car from moving and the rear wheels have fun....why couldn't i do a burnout? i had the window down and i tried a second time and the tires did not move an inch, i mean the intrepid was not doing it....are some cars like this? they can't do burnouts or is it just cause the engine is so weak or the brakes are set up different?

thnx

 

intrepids are fwd....... when u hold brake u hold the front tires from spinning

 

It's FWD and your pushing the breaks.
Just put it in 1st and nail it as you let out the clutch, no breaks.

 

If the car won't do a burnout on it's own use the E-brake for assistance. As for your camaro check for a clogged catalytic converter.

 

Yes sounds like the cat may be clogged. Or you running WAY lean.