I read somewhere that an experienced mechanic type person can tell if car is runing rich or lean by the smell of the exhaust.

Well......mine smells like the exhaust from a school bus.

The exhaust does not have a color.....not even on first start up.

thanks for any input

if your eyes water driving it........its rich.

rich-will smell sweet, almost gasoliny (is that even a word???) but not quite

lean-smell ozoney (like burnt potato chips) almost like something's on fire but subdued.

Some times a person can tell by smell, but with a Fiero, just put in the test jumper and drive it!
Your check light will blink 50/50 if it is right...
crash...

That's the trouble with catalytic converters. They change the smell. On my, non catt'd, Fiero, I can smell if it's running rich. Smells acrid, and a little like gas. Oh, that and it'll backfire when coasting, in my experience.

I used to solder in an adjustable pot(resistance)into the coolant temp circuit,and if things improve with resistance,then it was too lean before,if it doesn't run better,it's rich.
You could always get a smog check.