Dip in Power and Exhaust Sound Different?

[TJ91]

Hey guys, something seems wrong with my V6 but I can't pinpoint what it is.
There is no CEL or any odd engine noises, however starting last week, around 3-5000rpm under hard acceleration, the car feels like it dips in power and the exhaust note dramatically changes. At first I thought maybe a misfire? But now I have no clue what it is. Its starting to be more frequent but there are no warning lights or codes upon start.
Ive had this car for 5 years with a SOLO exhaust and I have never heard it like this up until next week.

Im trying to avoid bringing it to the dealer because my front end is extremely low and will have to swap out my front end to bring it in so was hoping someone might have knowledge on this or any ideas on where to start looking.

Car has 60,000KM not miles, have not done spark plug change yet.

Any ideas?
The sound is so different I really can't describe it

[TJ91]

Just want to thank Gutterball for the PM

Thanks bud

[kjkjr27]

What is/was the problem?

[Gee]

Originally Posted by TJ91

Just want to thank Gutterball for the PM

Thanks bud

hey man. my car is doing the same exact thing. what was the problem|??

[TJ91]

No idea
I got home late from class and parked the car
It's gotten much worse and now I'm fearing stretched timing chains possibly? I mean we all fear the worst right

Was hoping someone had good experience with this

Now anythime rpm is above 3000 the car loses power and exhaust note changes dramatically

[kjkjr27]

O, from the sound of your post about the PM it seemed like you figured out what the issue was.

[TJ91]

Sorry no I was sent a PM and he mentioned possible bad cats (insert meme lol) but also to have my OBD read to see what codes come up

[kjkjr27]

Are they the stock ones?

[TJ91]

Yes they're stock cats

[Gee]

ok. so ive narrowed mine down to bad cat or oxygen sensor. ive got a p2097. exhaust leak before the cat. probably was a vaccuum leak from my catch can that caused a rich reading or some bs like that. so done with the v6 at this point. thinking of trading in for an 04 ls1 GTO or something.

[Nutbutt]

I would be very surprised if it was a stock cat gone bad. An you say you have no codes ?
Usually if cat has gone bad you can hit it with a mallet and you will hear pieces rattling around. At that point take it off an take a look in the hot side.

[TJ91]

and the problem returns

Have no clue what to do

Going to get the car scanned

No codes or anything have popped up.

Strange. Even my girlfriend hears the change in sound.
Totally different sound, sounds like a totally different car and then note changes again back to normal.

Weird.

[Gee]

Originally Posted by TJ91

and the problem returns

Have no clue what to do

Going to get the car scanned

No codes or anything have popped up.

Strange. Even my girlfriend hears the change in sound.
Totally different sound, sounds like a totally different car and then note changes again back to normal.

Weird.

Vacuum leak or something to do with the Variable Valve Timing?? 3k rpm is when the VVT kicks in.