Like the title says, my car doesn't sound the same as it used to. The engine grumbles, and the car can barely accelerate. I haven't noticed a drop in gas milage, I'm getting about 20. Since I've owned the car I've replaced the spark plugs, wires, most fluids(transmission, engine, coolant, ect), fuel filter, the air filter looks new, distributer, cap and rotor, heater core... and some other things I may be forgetting. When my dad stopped by O'Reilly's to get the heater core he said the guy there had owned like 7 fieros and was working on one right now. The guy told him it was most likely something with the EGR. Does this sound true? What should I check to see what needs replacing? The car is an 87GT, 2.8, 5 speed.

[This message has been edited by gh0st (edited 12-11-2010).]

Lets start with the basics. Key on, engine off does the service engine soon light come on? It should. Are you getting the SES light at anyother times?

Have you checked for ECM codes?

Yes, it does come on when I start the car. My SES did come on the other day, just after I changed the heater core. I'll go check. Thankyou, that video was very helpful.

Did you replace the distributor? Have you messed with the timing at all?

Oh, no I don't think I replaced the distributer, just the cap and rotor. I don't think the problem started after I did that either. I checked for error codes, I watched it for a few minutes and it just repeated 12, more than 3 times.

[This message has been edited by gh0st (edited 12-11-2010).]

Did you replace the plugs also? Both front and rear banks?

What does the engine idle at once warmed up? 900 - 1000?

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 12-11-2010).]

Take out your oxygen sensor and see how it runs. I'm thinking plugged catalytic converter if it is still there... might be the muffler as well.

Lets clean up that EGR valve while were here. Two 13mm headed bolts and a vacuum line and it's off. Be careful not to bump around the tube that leads from the block under the EGR to the bottom of the intake manifold. They are prone to leaking.

Two bolts and the vacuum line and the EGR valve should be in your hands. Clean any carbon deposits from it with a wire wheel Check to make sure it moves up and down ok. Then push it up, seal the vacuum line with your finger and make sure the diaphram stays in the up position. Then pull your finger off and the diaphram sould return to it's normal position.

The problems that could cause the troubles like you describe are a stuck open (retracted) valve, or a valve with carbon deposits that hold it open. Usually the trouble is much worse at idle and low speed engine operation. Usually at higher speed it doesn't make as much difference.

It's easy to clean, and easy to test so might as well have at it and either prove it to be the cause, or eliminate it as the cause.

It's the big round thing right next to the arrow head

Okay, I took off the EGR valve, it seems to operate okay, no buildup, no holes in the diaphram.

The noise - like an air rushing noise?

Yes, I do hear an air noise coming from behind me. I'm going to jack the car up and try what you said, the guy at autozone also said to try knocking on the cat to see it it sounds solid.

Don't get under a car supported only by a jack.

Ramps or Jack Stands.

You don't change your own oil?

The air noise is new and came on along with the trouble?

If so id say 90% cat converter.

Sometimes the honecomb of the cat comes out as a chunk and travels to the muffler and causes the plug there.

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 12-11-2010).]

Yes, I have jack stands and the car was supported by them before I went under. The noise did come along with the trouble. I disconnected the O2 sensor, that solved my power issues. So... I either need to straight pipe it or get a high flow one from Rodney... what would you recommend?

If you don't need to pass emissions, I'd just straight pipe it.

For off road use only. <nudge-nudge. wink-wink.>

You don't need to go with a Rodney cat unless you plan on passing emissions in California. The wackos in CA feel the need for the converter to look like origional equipment. More government stupid think. So it doesn't matter if your new converter works as good as the origional in CA. It doesn't matter if your converter works better than origional. It matters to the brilliant people in CA if it is origional. So we come up with converters that sure look origional and install them. Course they aren't origional but that doesn't matter. I surely would think the government nimrods even know exactly what is going on. But it makes their small brains feel good and so we all play the 'stupid game'. Kinda sounds like the regulators for Chernobyl eh?

Check the prices of cats at the local store and then make your call.