Well yes car has high mileage but has been working well... New flex pipe put in in Feb 2024. Then months later at high speed ( high RPMS to get car to go)noticed a slight rattle from underneath it seemed... Didnt think much of it until Oct 2024 I noticed the rattle more at high RPMS and a smell that is coming into car only at hight RPMS. Car does not go up hills it loses power same at stop signs or trying to pass a car...It barely goes but eventually does and runs very well. New sparks put in.. I do feel its something in muffler area... Just because high mileage no one wants to bother or they just do not know... Sometimes it will go to 4 RPM before it changes gear but thats when you hear the rattle and smell the smell.... Is it a clogged cat due to slow start at stop sign now and then. Very erratic..or sensor.. I thought Id find an answer here rather than get ripped off by techs. I cannot afford a new car nor a used one so just trying to see if anyone here has the same issue.. Yes its leaking oil but its never low.. Seems a bit noisy underneath than usual..

 

very possible the cat is pluged un-screw your 02 sensore off the cat and see if that helps with the power loss if it does most likely need a catalytic converter

 

Well im a young senior women. One has to be so careful with techs if I can find an honest one. So can I drive around without the sensor? Or get a new one...The code did not come up as CAT...A new Flex pipe was put in last year, I wonder if that did something...If cat was clogged how come it works fine on straight aways. You would think f clogged it would not run at all...It's a shame a cat cannot be cleaned out somehow as it's so expensive getting new ones....I cannot afford alot. But thank you for answering.

 

From Your description from my seat with-out looking at it. it sounds like a partially pluged Catalytic converter that's gone bad hence giving you power loss on hills You need to find a good independent Mechanic/technition in your area either through word of mouth or checking people's review's online Catalytic Converters for the most part last the life of the vehicle its possible to have defective one that prematurely went south. or they can also be damaged from a cause somewhere in the engine or rich running condition that caused accesive fuel to go through it there by over time destroying it. in either case a trained mech/tech needs to diagnose it. to find the root cause.

 

Well it has 245,000 miles on it and no one wants to give it a chance it seems.No one has looked at it yet but they say possible clogged cat. who knows....car runs well otherwise.. Ill see. But thanks