Well guys, my car ever since the day I got it has run absolutely perfect. I mean not a problem what-so-ever!! Its a 1993 V6 3.4 and currently has 148,000 miles on it.... and for the last 1,000 miles or so it has been running extremely rough and I've noticed a somewhat-significant performance loss. This is the first winter that my car has seen, lowest temp so far was 22 degrees the other day here in D.C. I'm not sure if this is why the car is running a little rough, but the other problem leads me to believe that something else is wrong. It has an EXTREMELY strong exhaust smell, not like gas but like something you would expect to smell out of a truck or something...its noticeably different. I'm thinking that it is a sensor problem. The other day I unplugged the battery to reset the computer to see if this would help. When I reconnected it the car fired right up and immediateley started sputtering. Every start after that is just fine unless I reset the computer, its almost like the computer has to adjust to something before it can run right. Do you think that it could be a sensor or just a high mileage engine dying. I just think that its something small because of how well it has run up to this point. Anyway, thanks in advance for all your help!!!

-Dave

 

I believe the computer does have to adjust after the battery has been disconnected. "It has to learn again"

If it were a bad sensor it would probably throw a SES light.
May be your cat.
My first thought was worn oil rings.

Sorry I don't have anymore help
Hope she gets better

 

the worn oil rings sounds right, you're pretty much implying a rebuild, right? On the other hand it probably is throwing an SES light, but my bulb is blown out so I don't see it. I think I'm gonna try to get it scanned at Autozone...Anyone else have any ideas?!?

 

clogged cat! smell like sulfer? clogged cat.
are you getting smell or smoke
or both?

 

just smell, do you think that thats why i'm losing power and its running rough, kinda would make sense?!?

 

Yes you can lose power w/ a clogged cat and it can run rough because of it.

 

oh yeah, just smell. i would bet money its your cat. they dont last forever. this is how you check it: drive around for a while and get out and underneath your car, then touch it. if its hot then its bad. dude i am just kidding!
when the cat in my truck was bad, i could actually see it light up red like a burning charcoal way after i stopped the car.
well anyways, i think its your cat.

 

Keep it simple and cheap first.Have you lost any MPG while driving around?Sounds like your O2 sensors may be gone ($15 at Autozone and you need 2).If they're gone you'll get a rich condition (gas smell).They are usually only good for about 80,000 miles also.Good luck whatever the problem is.
Kevin