Loosing power - cant burn the tires!

**Zedtwentyeight** · 08-21-2008, 02:32 PM

I'm new here and looking for some help... Ive own an f body for years and just last year i bought a 2002 ws6 - white 6spd. I have put 3k on the car in the past year and just got it cleaned up for a nice drive on my birthday. So there i was with my buddy and he says "do a burnout". I said "okay" and the car wouldnt do it. WTF! I am pretty gentle on the car, but ive had no issues in the past with a burnout (and no the tcs was not on). I do have a SES light that says my Cats are bad but other than that the car has been fine. Any thoughts? It just feels like im loosing power somewhere. And the high end power seems fine. HELP!

**317Born** · 08-21-2008, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Zedtwentyeight

I'm new here and looking for some help... Ive own an f body for years and just last year i bought a 2002 ws6 - white 6spd. I have put 3k on the car in the past year and just got it cleaned up for a nice drive on my birthday. So there i was with my buddy and he says "do a burnout". I said "okay" and the car wouldnt do it. WTF! I am pretty gentle on the car, but ive had no issues in the past with a burnout (and no the tcs was not on). I do have a SES light that says my Cats are bad but other than that the car has been fine. Any thoughts? It just feels like im loosing power somewhere. And the high end power seems fine. HELP!

my ses says the same thing....not tryin to steal ur thread...but does bad cats mess ur engine up?

**Orcus79** · 08-21-2008, 03:15 PM

Yes they will, the SES light will come on when the second set of O2s detect a drop in cat effiency. Usually means they are clogged which will stop up exhaust. Kinda like a blocked drain.

**BIG GUNS** · 08-21-2008, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Orcus79

Yes they will, the SES light will come on when the second set of O2s detect a drop in cat effiency. Usually means they are clogged which will stop up exhaust. Kinda like a blocked drain.

or a constipated butt hole.

**raynor139** · 08-21-2008, 04:24 PM

Yeah they will rob you of power when clogged and will continue to get worse till you have it replaced. If the car is under 80000 miles take it to the dealer and they will replace them at no charge.

**ls1camino** · 08-21-2008, 04:25 PM

Clutch going bad? That's what I discovered at the LS1 Picnic

**Hi-Po** · 08-21-2008, 04:33 PM

Or get rid of those damn cats completely. If your state allows it.

No cats here. <<<<<<<

**BirdCountry02** · 08-21-2008, 07:45 PM

Originally Posted by raynor139

Yeah they will rob you of power when clogged and will continue to get worse till you have it replaced. If the car is under 80000 miles take it to the dealer and they will replace them at no charge.

My SES is on too for the same reason, i just broke 70,000 on an 02 and i don't know crap about the warranty. but will they still do it free of charge no matter what?

**cobrakiller99** · 08-21-2008, 08:46 PM

would the ses light come on if you take the cats of completely?

**DUBB** · 08-21-2008, 09:13 PM

Originally Posted by cobrakiller99

would the ses light come on if you take the cats of completely?

tune them out of the computer i'd imagine???

**Hot Black Trans-Am** · 08-21-2008, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by cobrakiller99

would the ses light come on if you take the cats of completely?

The ses light will come on. You can either have the code tuned out, get o2 sims or ignore the light until you get a tune.

**Zedtwentyeight** · 08-22-2008, 03:45 AM

Thanks fo all the quick responses. I will be taking my car to the dealer today to find out if they will replace the cats. After they replace them, i'll i pull em off sell them andput a y pipe on! ha!

**1972_Z-28** · 08-22-2008, 05:04 AM

Originally Posted by BirdCountry02

My SES is on too for the same reason, i just broke 70,000 on an 02 and i don't know crap about the warranty. but will they still do it free of charge no matter what?

Yes, as stated above under 80k and they will do it free of charge. GM extended the warranty to 80k for the cats only.

**Zedtwentyeight** · 08-22-2008, 05:06 AM

Well leave it to me to expect same day service from a GM dealership. Turns out you have to take it to Pontiac not a GM certified dealership and i only have 2 in the area...both cant see me till monday. weeeeaak! oh well, now i wait...

**Spaz** · 08-22-2008, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by ls1camino

Clutch going bad? That's what I discovered at the LS1 Picnic

+1...

cat code won't trigger that much of a power loss... i've been there...

**Spaz** · 08-22-2008, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted by cobrakiller99

would the ses light come on if you take the cats of completely?

as long as you have the rear 02's tuned off ot sims put in you'll be fine... i hae no cats on my car...

**317Born** · 08-22-2008, 12:36 PM

Originally Posted by 1972_Z-28

Yes, as stated above under 80k and they will do it free of charge. GM extended the warranty to 80k for the cats only.

my t/a just hit 81k miles...man that sucks...i guess i'll go catless when i order my pacesetter long tubes and fab up my own y pipe...

**Zedtwentyeight** · 08-22-2008, 01:31 PM

so i know that i may get some harsh feedback for this, but today i decided to de-screen, and polish my MAF. Also, 1 of the little sensors that everyone says to stay away from was black as can be. I managed to clean it up (carefully).

So after doing all that and discon the bat for a while i started her up and took her for a spin.

Would i be crazy to say that i noticed a huuuuge difference? I could def spin the tires all that i wanted to.

Any thoughts?

**1998 T/A** · 08-22-2008, 01:53 PM

not at all, maybe that little sensor being so dirty was robbing you of HP. they say your not supposed to take out the screen becuase debri will damage your MAF. good luck though!!

**cobrakiller99** · 08-22-2008, 03:00 PM

if you take the cats off completely, ive heard from some people that the computer will run in limp mode. is that true. i plan to go lt headers and y pipe next year.