Pontiac Repair: 96 Grand Am hesitating, pontias, catalitic converter

Question
QUESTION: My 96 Pontias GrandAm Se V4 just starting having problems this winter, as its idling and Driving, it starts to heisitate, sounds like its just going to die, Took it in and they said there was nothing wrong it with, expect that the Spark Plug Coil wasnt sitting right. they fixed that and now its really hesitating more then it did to begin with.

ANSWER: Hi Sarah:

does it feel like it's misfiring not running on all cylinders? Or is it just hesitating and running bad at a stop light? Any service engine soon lamp on? These engiens have issues with the housinging the coils sit in and if that is the case it would lack power and feel like it's running on 2 cylinders rater than 4. You could have a problem with any one of the engine iput sensors to the engine computer causing a hesitation.If it hasn't set any trouble codes "service lamp being on" makes it harder to find the problem. What ever it is that's causing the issue is not bad enough for the engine computer to pick up on and turn on a trouble lamp. Other things it could be is a plugged or restricted fuel filer or low fuel pressure from the pump. Good luck :0


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi again, to me it feels like it just doesn't have the guts to go lol it wants to but it just cant. The check engine light isn't on. Today it has actually gotten(or seemed to me)very close to dying, hesitates and has problems all the time but seems worse when in Drive.  thanks

Answer
well it could be something as easy and a plugged/restricted fuel filter. I would start there. Also have some one hook up a pressure gauge and make sure the pump is putting out enough pressure and volume. Another possability is an exhaust system that is restricted. Possably a catalitic converter that is plugging up.