so just out of the blue one day, i'm driving my 00' 3.8l camaro, and i realize, there's just something wrong. not just one thing, but a lot of things. for one, my exhaust note sounds different, more whiny and ricer-y than before. my a/c is shutting off at a lot lower rpms than it did before also. and when i would punch it, (the throttle, not the a/c) the acceleration just sucked! and when the rpms would finally get up to around 4.5k or so, i would hear this god-awful clicky sound, so i backed off. what the hell, guys!? i'm thinking a bad cat, since it seems the most obvious culprit, but you think it might be anything else???

 

i suppose it could be running lean that would explain the loss of power and the exaught tone .....any SES codes?.....any sounds coming from underneath the hood?

 

I dunno what the a/c has to do with anything but the whiny sounds like a cat, the clicking could be any number of things but I doubt the cat. If it was the cat, and its clogged, that click would probably the extra strain on your valve train and rotating assembly due the massive amount of back pressure. Just a thought.

 

there's a constant click now sounds like its coming from one of the pulleys. but i'm really leaning towards the cat being bad. and the whole backpressure thing sounds pretty plausible. and no, i'm not getting any codes coming up. i cant really check the cat to see if its bad, right?

 

Well if its plugged there should be a catalyst ineffiency code. Other than that its really hard to nail a car problem from online lol.

 

Sounds like you have an exhaust leak (your clicking noise). And the loss in power could be a number of things... Does your car make any odd noises when you accelerate or does it hesitate?

 

Plugged cat should not set the cat code, as the sensors will think it is doing one hell of a job. A/C can be shut off based on the following: low refrigerant, when your throttle is pretty much wide open, high coolant temperature, low voltage, low intake air temperature, and RPMs.

 

Okay i had the same thing happen to my 3.8... clicking noticably loud and absolutely no power... i collapsed 3 lifters and had no idea how i did it. if i were you i would try to pinpoint the clicking to a side of the motor and if you can hear it better on either side then pull the valve cover and give each of your rockers a good jiggle. minimal side to side play is acceptable but you should not be able to rocker the rocker back and forth at all. thats was what i had to do but try and pin point that click before you do anything whether it be your exhaust or what. and if the clicking has gotten more noticable then i wouldnt drive the car if possible

 

Check your belt maybe it is slipping? If you replace it, go with a Gatorback from GoodYear stays a little cooler...

While you're at it, make sure you have a good belt tensioner I've had two replaced on my '95 3.4L...