Changed the plugs and wires today without any improvement, however i do think the wires needed replaced anyway. Unless you guys think it's a stupid move, I might go mass air sensor next, which sucks if it doesn't solve the problem because its $150 with a $65 core charge. I do get a code sparatically, but it just says that the O2 sensor says it's running too lean, not necessarily that the O2 sensor itself is bad. That's why I'm thinking mass air sensor. Does this make sense or am I stupid? I admit I don't know much about cars if you couldn't tell.

 

I feel I should elaborate on the hole I put in the cat. My friend told me yesterday that to do any good drilling holes, you need to drill through it in the same direction the air flows. The hole I put in it is on the side, he said this wouldn't hardly do anything. Before the mass air sensor should I reinvestigate the cat? The reason I put the hole in the side was because I couldn't get the cat off.

 

unbolt the exhaust at the header pipes if the cat is welded on. this is to see if cat/airflow is the problem so u will not be buying a new cat for nothing. if not the cat it will make no difference. when they talk about drilling the cat or gutting the cat that means its drilled from the end on the inside.

 

The cats not welded on, it's flanged. I got the clamps off but I can't slide the cat off the exhaust pipe. Nonetheless, thanks craby I'll try your suggestion.

 

I feel I should elaborate again, the hole in the cat isn't in the side of it, it's in the neck on the front, so it's ahead of the 'guts' of the cat that would be plugged.

 

so that should have relieved some of the pressure and allowed some air flow to let it breath. and u said it got better then went back to the way it was. sounds like the guys at the shop may have given u the right info so maybe u should replace the parts starting with the least costly if u like or just do it all and be done with it.

 

I replaced the MAS and it didn't help. The only things left are fuel pressure regulator and 02 sensors. Even if the 02 sensors are bad, I don't think they would make it run THIS crappy wihout something else being wrong. If I change the fuel pressure regulator and that doesn't help I'm out of ideas. That's everything from the diagnostic.

 

check along the fuel line and make sure there isnt a second fuel filter. not sure what kind of iac u have but mine needed to be reset when u put it in for the first time. u pull the valve head out but not all the way out. if u do by accident dont lose any parts. and put it back in. then when u get it in and start the car the first time u give it a little gas and start it and run for about 10 seconds then shut the car off. dont know if your s is the same as mine though.

 

hopefully things start to go better it always makes for a bad day when your car isnt running right and you cant figure out why at all

 

the guys in the shop would have replaced all of the parts at once and been in the same place so by doing it u saved quite a bit. u have a electric fuel pump? have u replaced the ignition modual? i dont remember seeing it. in your yr should be in the distribitor under the rotor. good idea to keep one in the car with a screwdriver so if its not bad keep the one not on the car for a spare.