I have a 1997 v6 Camaro with around 125k on the clock. The car has lost a very large amount of its acceleration and I need some help on isolating the problem. Just to give you an idea, the 0 to 60 time is about 20 seconds....rough guess.

I'm not very mechanically inclined, but I figured that the car wasn't getting enough fuel...possible fuel filter clog. I just replaced it today and it didn't do any good. Injector cleaners are what I plan on trying next. Any other suggestions?

I am afraid that a big part of the problem was when I drove the car with a misfire for about a month. At the time I couldn't afford to get the car fixed and was forced to drive it with the problem. For the record, it was a severe misfire. 2 plug wires were burnt on the manifold. I fear that this may have caused perminate damage.

The accelleration has been declining slowly in the past 6 months ( the time of the misfire). The power loss has gotten to the severe state within the last 2 months. Help please!!

Thanks in advance. Oh, I have never pushed the car too hard. It is a daily driver.

 

It might be the catalytic, but this sounds like a major problem. Driving the car with a misfire for that length of time certainly was not good for it. I would suggest you start by going to a place like AutoZone and have them pull codes for you; it's free. Then work from there.

 

125k...stock cat? That sounds like the problem...

Driving with the misfire isn't good for the cat either...more reason to believe that is the problem.

Can't say for sure though...

 

I have a 1996 Camaro 3.8 that had the same misfire problem just like you did and when it got fixed (new plugs/wires)..it still ran crappy..so in went the new accel coil packs and a new high flow cat and O-2 sensors and it runs great............maybe your cat is clogged up, check for any codes??

 

this might help your cat may be clogged mine was and i had the same problem your haven a way to check is let the car sit at idle go to your exhuast pipe place a piece of paper over the pipe if it blows from the exhuast then you might be ok if it doesnt t hen not alot of gas's are ccommin out your car witch means your cat is clogged. do you hear any air sounds or rattling under your car