I have a 2003 Monte Carlo, not a ss just standard.
I am having a problem... I was told that if ire place my mass air flow sensor (the device between the intake box and the air in take manifold.) I have been driving it now for 5 days and it has not changed. The problem that I am having is:
The car starts and run some what, the motor feels like it is struggling to breath, kind of sluggish and slow, I can have the gas all the to the floor and it boars down and docent go any were, it goes a little bit and slowly over time will catch up but in the end it is not right and it is probably causing more damage and I don't have the money to get the car in a dealer right away, thought I would check on here first.
I replaced the mass air flow sensor, fuel filter, air filter, spark plugs, trans fluid. I am not surer what is next.
I have 106,000 miles and she is a great car. I want to keep it longer and hopefully till my kids can drive.
Please help me figure this out!!!!!

 

Also the lights inside the car seam to dime and flicker... Forgot to add that as well.

 

Check your fuel pressure at the rail. If its low your fuel pump may be going bad. IIRC it should be like 47 PSI at idle. I could be wrong tho.

 

How would I go about checking the pressure? Do I go and buy a tool or is that something a dealer has to do, I want to learn so I can do this stuff over time and learn and make this a hobby.

 

There is a schrader valve on the fuel rail that you can screw a fuel pressure gauge onto. Any mechanic should have one, as would the dealer.

 

Your cat might be clogged

 

Thanks for the help I will let you all know what the problem is or what I have done and found out... This is the first time this has happened to the car and I want to make sure I take care of it now instead of when the car is on it's last leg.

 

My Monte did that also...had the cat checked at the chevy dealer...it was clogged due to a defect in the part.The dealer replaced it free of charge because of the GM extended warranty coverage on a known bad cat issue...I would take it to the local dealer instead of a local garage because if the cat is plugged the local shop will not replace it under the GM warranty,only the chevy dealer will.Your lights maybe flickering because your engine isnt get up to speed in order for your alternator to work properly and run your accessories.

 

Thanks for that info, I will try that first.