Haven't even had it for a week yet.....

This is the same thing I posted on TGO.

Then today I went to get something to eat, and when I was at a stoplight and when I went to push on the gas it felt like it was bogging down, so I let off and pushed on it again and it seemed fine. Then not even a mile down the road I was attemping to change lanes, but I had to speed up to get over, it wouldn't downshift and bogged down again, then I hear a poping sound coming from the back(backfire maybe?) and seen white smoke in the rearview and of course the smell of gas, but I smell that every time I get on the gas a little hard... So when I got home I could smell gas from the exhaust pipes too. What's going on? Is it running too rich or is it about to go?

I also hear this weird sound when I take my foot off the gas. It sounds like something is loose and rattling, but kinda like a scraping sound?, the other owner said it was a loose bolt on the cat bracket, but I checked today and there is no bolt loose... I checked all the bolts on the exhaust and still can't find it. If you leave it in park or whatever and barely push on the gas you hear it, it doesnt matter how hard you push on it. and the noise lasts about 2-3 seconds. it does it when you acclerate too but it's harder to hear over the engine..... Edit: Now the sound is constant and much louder. You start the car and push on the gas some(while in park) and the noise starts and doesn't stop.

 

Does the noise get louder/faster as the RPMs go up? Is it a bang, rattle, scratch, etc? Give us some more info....

- Justin

ps - this site and TGO are both good, but if you want to talk to a bunch of guys that really know v6s, head over to fullthrottlev6.com

 

The noise is the same no matter how hard you rev it, or how long you hold it there. Once you first start the car up it doesn't do it, but once you push the gas it does.

Sorry if I'm not making things too clear for you guys, but I have very little experience with cars. I probably sound like the ditzy blonde chick that goes into the auto parts store lol

 

How old are your plugs?

 

I'm not sure when they were changed, but I looked at them and both the wires and plugs look good.

 

If it won't downshift it WILL bog at certain rpms under acceleration. When it bogs it will load up with fuel and may pop back thru the intake. The smoke is probably excessive fuel buid up from bogging.
I'd reset the T.V. cable first, then check for vacuum leaks..

 

All this tv cable, pcv talk, etc is all new to me. I've never heard of those things in my life. I think I mentioned before that I have no previous car experience. Only things I've done was change oil and plugs and wires... I aslo can't afford to take it to a mechanic.

Someone should make a "working on your 3.1 for dummies" for me

 

Go get a shop manual. That is only place to start. Welcome to the world of used old cars! Good luck!!!

 

I went to the liabary and got the Chiltons book, but it doesn't have anything about replacing any senors. And what is a TBS? throttle body sensor?

 

I mean TPS.

 

Throttle Position Sensor

 

The T.V. cable is the one the comes from the passenger side of your trans to the drivers side of your throttle body linkage.
It's function is to control the Throttle Valve in the tranny, controlling line pressure and shifting in relation to the amount(angle) of the throttle blade.
It can be adjusted by pushing the release tab on the cable near where it goes thru the bracket on the plenum. You'll see like a "D" shaped button, press it and push the plastic of the cable sleeve back toward the firewall. Then let go and open the throttle fully by hand and it should reset itself.
But the prefered method is to have a friend hold the gas pedal down onto the floor, press the button, and remove any slack from the cable/housing. Then release the button.

 

maybe the fuel return line is restricted somewhere along the way ? hmmm

 

OK Immortal, remember, KISS principle. (Keep It Simple Stupid). Not calling you stupid, it's just a term mechanics use. Start with the basics. Visually check all of the black lines under the hood and see that they all go to the proper locations. There should be a vacuum routing diagram under the hood in plain sight if it hasnt been removed by the past owners. If it's not there check the Chiltons manual you said you had. Test your fuel pressure with a gauge. Check that all the plug wires are on correctly and in order on the cap/coil pack, whatever type of setup it is. Make sure they are not damaged, I.E. burnt, frayed, insulation broken, etc. An easy way to see if all the wires are getting current, is to simply hook up a timing light one by one to each wire with the vehicle running. (Now this does not necessarily say all the wires are hooked up right, and that the plugs themselves are firing, just says that they are getting current.) I mainly use that quick test to see if I got spark. Check your timing, there should be a label under the hood or on the radiator support somehwere in plain sight saying everthing from the spark plug gap, to the timing in degrees. If you need help on how to check this, IM me, pm me, whatever. Also use the manual to tell you how to test your TPS. Also test the MAF sensor, if equipped, for correct voltage and continuity in the ground. Last but not least as of now, I'd check the resistance in all the injectors. I can tell you how to do this too if you would like.

 

Oh and that noise you are hearing could very well be a baffle in the muffler, sorry im tired and dont feel like reading this whole post, lol, so disregaurd if you said anything about it not coming from the muffler. Heat shield for the catalytic converter rusted out or loose? check it too.