OK...1993 SE. I started my car up today to leave work and I heard a slight rattling sound coming from underneath the hood. I popped the hood to do a visual and seen nothing out of the ordinary. Temps were normal at the time. I proceed to drive home (about 15 minute drive) and the rattling got MUCH worse. It is very loud and distinctive. Proformance SUCKS! Complete lack of power, very sluggish. Temps go up whenever I take my foot off the gas pedal.

Now, I'm driving on the highway (It takes awhile, but I can get up to speed still),,,LOUD rattling still present throughout...I let off the gas to slow down...temps start to climb...as the rpms get near idle the dash starts dinging. The car then stalls if I dont give it more gas. Once I do give it gas, the rattling gets louder...temps go back down to normal, etc.

What could the problem be?

I've done a search already and seen a bunch of threads on the Harmonic Balencer...Everyone with that problem didn't have poor proformace such as me. So I will steer away from that.

It might be the Catylitic Converter judging by the symptoms...I haven't been able to crawl under the car yet to bang on it (which I've heard before isn't always sure fire).

Worse case; it sounds like engine internals. Hopefully not though; because I'm not familiar with repairing anything past the valve covers.

Opinions please?

You got my vote on the Cat. It certainly sounds like there'* an exhaust blockage.

Others will follow with their suggestions.

SMALL UPDATE:

I was able to get under the car with a rubber mallet and bang on the CAT for awhile. I couldn't tell much though. The wasn't a loud rattling like I would have suspected, but the exhaust structure looks pretty solid in general. So I can expect that if a large piece of the honeycomb were broken off....hitting the cat with a mallet would make it move enough to let me know that it'* the problem.

I was able to start the car (Giving a little gas to prevent stall) and leane my head out of the door to listen. The noise is 10X louder under the car...in the general direction of the cat.

Short of cutting the bast*rd off, how can I eliminate or pinpoint the CAT?

IKZ, this is the post I just did for another potential cat problem this morning. Maybe you can use it to help you out.

Suggestions from FSM are:

Checks connections at the PCM and your wiring harness for backed out terminals, broken terminal locks, damaged terminals, and bad or worn wires. This especially includes the wiring on both 02 sensors.

If everything looks OK, then hook up your scan tool and watch the screen while moving connectors and wires that are related to the O2 sensors. A change in display will indicate a problem area.

Then monitor O2 sensor activity while in Park. If the activity level of both sensors is about equal, then there is a problem. Your 2nd O2 should show much less activity.

Then, if problem is still indicated, visually inspect the cat for dents, discoloration caused by severe temps, holes, or internal rattling. Also inspect exhaust downpipe and surrounding pices for damage.

Then, if you determine you need a new cat, there should be a direct fit one for your car available. Try carsound and other performance parts places online. The universal fit one will work, but as you said, why do that if you can get a direct fit?

If you don't have a scanner available, then you obviously can't rule out the O2 sensors, but I wouldn't think that they would make any loud rattling sounds.

Truly, from your descriptions, it does sound somewhat like your cat is at fault.

I believe that your cat is bolted on at the downpipe and at the outflange. Unless it is aftermarket already. You should be able to get a direct fit hi-flow cat online (I think, for your year).

BIG UPDATE!!!

It all started when I pulled my car in the driveway from the curb.

I was going to pull her up on ramps and fire up the sawz-all.

Just as a get to the ramp and put some load on it, the engine completely locks up!

It will not start at all now. When I turn the key; all I get is the brief "CLICK" of the internals binding somewhere.

Can someone please give me suggestions on how to proceed from here?

OK.

Now is the time to ask the basic questions, like;
Have you checked your fluids - oil and coolant/antifreeze? Correct quantities? Colors OK?

You said the dash starts dinging, which I assume means you have a CEL or SES light on? Is it fair to say you do not have access to a scan tool?

This does not sound good.

The car has been in great condition. Oil, trans, coolant, brake, PS ect. are all in great condition.

The dash only started to ding when I was driving and let off the gas....The RPM'* would sink down to idle and then the car would stall. The dinging wouldn't start until about 750rpm'*.

I have an OBD2 Scanner for my girlfriends Neon...but my 93SE is OBD1 if i'm not mistaken.

BTW...No SES light when the car was running.

Check the oil for pieces of metal.

I pulled the dip stick and didn't see any... Wouldn't the filter pick that kinda stuff up?

Sounds awfully familiar....say, your car didn't happen to sound like this did it?

http://s81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...t=90770c56.flv

If so, you gots alot work ahead of ya....though less than me....*/c motors are a pain to fix when things go wrong