Serious Problem with My 01' Grand Prix!

[DeMasi1990]

If this car dies on me i am sooooo screwed i couldnt even explainnnn...


My 2001 Grand Prix has HORRIBLE Gas milage, it cant get out of its own way, and tonight i noticed something when i floored it, after 3500 rpm it takes FOREVER to get near 5 and when it gets up in rpm it PINGS, WEll, atleast I think its a PING... its a Loud ratte inside the engine that comes at high RPM weather its under load or not under load....

For the past few months I have been getting a code 1414 I think ( EGR PINTLE Stuck) or something like that.. I reset the computer and it goes away for a while, then comes back..

Currently there is NO service engine soon light, the car just runs like Crap...at idle its fine, but when you are in a rush " like i am everyday for work" she dont want to move her A$$... the car literally bogs out, like something is holding it back, like its down a cyliner or its not getting enough of something....

Also, I noticed that when im in a rush or if i get on it, i smell that rotten egg smell sometimes BADDD..

Its a 2001 grand prix GT

3800 series II NON SUPERCHARGED vin K engine
Engine has 85,750 miles on it

Tune Up in 2005 at 50,000 miles
-Plugs ( Iridium Ac Delco)
- Wires ( ac Delco)
- Gas filter ( Ac Delco )
- Pcv Valve ( ac delco )
- Battery ( Delphi )

Only other thing it got that it didnt need was a new computer also by delphi....

I may have Provided wayy too much info but atleast its all there, if anyone can help, THANKYOU...Im screwed without that car because my T/A is in storage for the winter :coffee:....

[GTP231]

CAt is on its way out thus the rotten egg smell. You can get new Front or "down pipes" with high flow cats or straight pipes. What you get is soley your decision. I'd go with a high flow one so you don't have to deal with the SES light coming on since Rear O2 spoofs are no longer being produced. EGR being open when it shouldn't can definitely cause the detonating you're hearing and experiencing. If you remove the EGR you might be able to clean the opening on the valve. Haven't had one off in awhile so I can't remember 100%. If not you can buy a new valve or contact Ed Morad www.moradpartscompany.com and obtain a used one through him.
BTW no such thing as too much info when asking for diagnostic help

[DeMasi1990]

thanks alot, im glad I can do this all on my own i know the mecahnic would Charge over 1,000 to do all this..and its insane

[red_z28]

Also take a look at your MAF (Mass airflow sensor) sensor to see if it is dirty. It is the round piece with wires coming out of it connected to your airbox. If you have honeycomb shield on yours just peer in there with a flashlight. If it is dirty use MAF cleaner from your local auto store (4-5$) and follow the directions. I have seen a car run like ass and have the rotten egg smell from just a dirty MAF.

[GTP231]

Also take a look at your MAF (Mass airflow sensor) sensor to see if it is dirty. It is the round piece with wires coming out of it connected to your airbox. If you have honeycomb shield on yours just peer in there with a flashlight. If it is dirty use MAF cleaner from your local auto store (4-5$) and follow the directions. I have seen a car run like ass and have the rotten egg smell from just a dirty MAF.

Its on the the Throttle Body with the 3800 engines

[red_z28]

Its on the the Throttle Body with the 3800 engines

Duh, I should have known this! MY buddy has a series 2 supercharged Regal :poke:

[GTP231]

Duh, I should have known this! MY buddy has a series 2 supercharged Regal :poke:

Nothing else uses that set up its easy to forget. I used all the time before I bought mine

[DeMasi1990]

I took the car for a long LONG drive.. I live on long island NY and the 495 pretty much runs thru long island.. From east meadow to Selden it about 80 miles round trip.. I took it on there to try to blow anything out of the engine...after the trip it was more responsivein the low rpms then before ( it was getting really bad) to the point where I couldnt Drive it locally..


I got home, poped the hood and the exhaust manifolds were Glowing red....the cat wasnt i checked, But I bet at some point it was... Is it safe to say the cat is really Clogged? I have already had a mechanic tell me I needed a New engine, and my gut told me that it was all a line of BS.. That 3800 has been good to me since day 1 and Ive been good to it.. oil Changes every 2500 miles since 2001 anything it ever needed it got...By the way, Howcome no service engine soon light??

[red_z28]

I took the car for a long LONG drive.. I live on long island NY and the 495 pretty much runs thru long island.. From east meadow to Selden it about 80 miles round trip.. I took it on there to try to blow anything out of the engine...after the trip it was more responsivein the low rpms then before ( it was getting really bad) to the point where I couldnt Drive it locally..


I got home, poped the hood and the exhaust manifolds were Glowing red....the cat wasnt i checked, But I bet at some point it was... Is it safe to say the cat is really Clogged? I have already had a mechanic tell me I needed a New engine, and my gut told me that it was all a line of BS.. That 3800 has been good to me since day 1 and Ive been good to it.. oil Changes every 2500 miles since 2001 anything it ever needed it got...By the way, Howcome no service engine soon light??

sounds like its more of a rich...or lean fuel problem..I think you have a different problem than just a clogged cat...

Did you check out that MAF? Little things first. What about that EGR pintle stuck you were talking about? Did you try taking that off and cleaning it out with brake parts cleaner?

[GTP231]

Yeah cat is done but like Red Z said you gotta find the reason it went bye bye. Far as the SES light goes if the front O2 is getting lazy then the PCM isn't gonna necissarily realize the cat is going bad or if its running less than stociometric.

[Grims]

Its on the the Throttle Body with the 3800 engines

Don't listen to the boy scout
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7308/motivator3265073gn7.jpg

[GTP231]

Don't listen to the boy scout
http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7308/motivator3265073gn7.jpg

I want confirmation that car pictured is indeed a GTP. Plus that kid is a cub scout and not a boy scout.

[DeMasi1990]

i went and got a high flow cat today and brought the car to my mechanic.. He cut the old cat out and BEHOLD, the cat was Absolutley POSITIVELY ClOGGED!, So clogged that there was Deposits on the screens... He charged me $90 to install it and.....Ill put it to you like this.... I dont remember the car ever being so quick,responsive and TORQIE like that!...It Probably was when I got it in 2001, because i was 3 days away from being 17 and I bought that car just because it MOOOVED lol... In Anycase, Shes 100 percent back to Life I KNEW IT WASNT the ENGINE! Thanks for your help everyone and have a happy new year!...Ohh Yeah I got some pics of the cat, Ill get them up soon

[GTP231]

Ok but did you find and fix the problem that caused your cat to go to bye bye?

[red_z28]

Ok but did you find and fix the problem that caused your cat to go to bye bye?

^ what GTP dude said :poke: You are too quick to say its fixed, which is why mechanics stay in business:thumbsup: The cat is only one of your problems

Look at that EGR first since it gave you a code.

[93v8clone]

change your e.g.r valve before you burn your new high flow cat up e.g.r is prolly hung open and runnin lean caused cat to melt had to do it on mine same codes and symptoms on the same car:thumbsup:

[Grims]

that kid is a cub scout and not a boy scout.

There is a difference?

[GTP231]

Like Red said EGR definitely sounds like its the missing link to your cat saga


There is a difference?

Yeah. First off he's like 7 you don't start Boy Scouts until 11. Second he is in a Cub Scout uniform the Boy Scouts where a Khaki colored shirt with olive green pants.
I started in Tiger Cubs and got to Life before a year or two run as an adult leader. So don't even make any jokes

[Grims]

...Ah

[DeMasi1990]

I hate that thing with a passion ( the egr )... It gave many problems in the past with s.e.s lightsMy buddys got one off that 98 regal..Ill just change it out

[red_z28]

I hate that thing with a passion ( the egr )... It gave many problems in the past with s.e.s lightsMy buddys got one off that 98 regal..Ill just change it out

Sounds like a good plan. Good luck