Someone PLEASE help me with these Symptoms!!!

[xander2000]

I have a 2000 Firebird w/ 3800 and it's loosing so much power so fast.. here's what's happeneing, when it first started i was doing about 95mph and it wouldn't go any faster then the check engine started flashing for about 30 seconds then went off... ever since then power has been gradually decreasing.. when the car is ideling and you press the gas it sound's like a chirping whistling sound coming from drivers side of the engine simlar to the sound of a belt but it's not...on the road the car seems to bog down and when it's about 3700 rpm whenever you push the gas harder a loud clicking sound is coming from under the hood! i've changed spark plugs and fuel filter hoping that would fix it, the car has right at 90K on it, and as it's getting weaker the more i drive it that whisteling sound keeps getting worse because sometimes my car would catch its self and have normal power but not anymore whenver i press the gas it always whistle's, and my check engine light hasn't came on except whenever you start the car of course and my gas mileage is getting really bad. anyone have any ideas PLEASE let me know!!! Oh when there is power loss there really isn't any "hesitation" but it does surge alittle.....

[Dave M]

First order of business is to get it scanned to see what codes are stored in the computer. You can get it scanned for free at places like Auto Zone or Advance Auto. When the SES light flashed, it should have stored the code in the computer and that can be retreved. Get the results and post that back here, we can begin to narrow down the causes.

[xander2000]

Well i went to this local shop and had them check out my car, it throw any codes at all but after about 30 minutes of looking at and driving my car and they think it's either my cataletic converter or fuel pump but the test to check those 2 was $50 and i didn't have enough on me...i recently did hear some rattling from under my car which did sound like the cataletic converter though, what do you guys think?

[Dave M]

A clogged cat could cause a loss of power, and a rattle. It's unusual for a 5 or 6 year old car with only 90k to need a new cat, but not unheard of. A clogged cat would likely cause the manifolds to get very, very hot. Look under the hood at night after the engine is thoroughly warm. If you see the manifolds glowing red, you've likely got your answer.

[raroZ28]

Yeah, it's a common problem on the 3800's, they came missing a couple cylinders

Just kidding dude. How are the wires? Maybe a misfire from a bad wire. A bad fuel injector could cause that too. Take it to an auto parts store and have them scan the ecu.

[xander2000]

at the shop i took it too they ran the ecu and said it didn't throw any codes... i tried to get autozone to do it but they said they won't without a check engine light haha...whatever...but the wires seem good, i haven't replaced them yet though but will probably in the next few days... i'll look tonight at the manifolds and see if they glow... the other night i looked under the hood when it was completly dark and didn't see them glowing... the shop i went to said they'll check the fuel pump and cat for $50 so they can pin point the problem and tell me whats wrong so i might have them do that... how much does replace a cat usually cost?