2002 SLE no power under acceleration and bucking

[EXLINE]

Like the title says the car has no power when accelerating it takes forever to get 40. It will miss and carry on and will not go over 3000 rpm no matter if you floor it or whatever. I am not getting a SES light so i thought that was kind of weird. I am thinking its not either getting fuel or cant breath. Maybe a clogged cat, i do hear it rattle and carry on. I just bought this car not to long ago and it has all service records with it. i didnt notice if it had a pump, cat, or filter replaced. it had new plugs and wires not to long ago but wouldnt it throw a code if i was not getting spark? anyways its a 02 with 130k all options. i got it for 2800 found it on craigslist thought it was a good deal.

[00Beast]

It might not throw a code. If you bang on the cat, does it rattle?

[EXLINE]

yeah rattles bad. it rattles even when i get up to about 2800 rpm it rattles and carry on. i was just outside messing with it and help it WOT and it would only go to 2800 rpm and you can hear how its bogged down and i got a SES light to flash and got a p0300. soon as i get out of the gas it went out though..

[00Beast]

Stop driving it and get the cat replaced ASAP then. You could do some major damage to your engine if you continue to drive it with a plugged cat.

[EXLINE]

a muffler shop quoted me 180 installed for a direct fit

[00Beast]

That sounds reasonable. Just make sure the brand of cat is reputable, and it's going to pass emissions if you need to do so.

[EXLINE]

man i just hope that is what it is before i go dump 200 bux on it

[00Beast]

If you're somewhat mechanically inclined you could remove the downpipe from the rear manifold and wire it up and go for a run around the block.

[EXLINE]

i also noticed my car misses out too. would that also cause it to miss?

[00Beast]

Definitely.

[EXLINE]

okay, well i am going to go get it taken care of tomorrow. by the way thanks for the help and great site! Should i stay away from those muffler shops? will a universal work or do i need a direct fit and will those muffler shops do a direct fit?

[00Beast]

I prefer local muffler shops to chains, generally more willing to work with you and deal.

A "direct fit" is gonna have a higher likelihood of not throwing a CEL light and passing emissions, if IN needs them.

[EXLINE]

no state tests here. i will make sure that the place does a direct fit i really dont want a SES light. minekie(sp?) told me that they would do it for $225 and was like watch those muffler shops they will do a uni and it will throw a light but like i said couple shops said $180 and i asked if it was a direct fit. He answered with a quick "yup" so who knows.

[leatherneck]

Using a Universal Cat will not throw a SES Light. unless it is a substandard replacement... The O2 sensors are what throws the light not the cat itself.

However I do prefer a direct fit for the fact you dont have to replace every pipe and that in fact it does "fit" with less chance of a leak...

[00Beast]

Using a high-flow cat can, though, since they're not as efficient as the PCM is designed to monitor, and the PCM will think the cat's not performing right.

[EXLINE]

well i went with a walker direct fit had the rear of it welded on. Works Great no SES light and fixed everything