Pontiac Repair: 92 sunbird 3.1L 6 cyl automatic (lost peppyness), handy check, hind sight

Question
Besides being an old car, I have a problem with lost power. When I changed the sparkplugs (for the V-tip kind) it seemed to respond a bit better. I did notice that a couple of the old plugs had lots of oil on it. By the sound of the motor, it seems like a cylinder isn't firing (maybe even 2?). But I'm now wondering if there's a problem with the choke since i noticed my fuel guage dropping faster than usual. Could it be stuck open? Is there a cylinder oversaturated? Being a 1992, I'm sure you must have a lot of hind-sight 20/20 to the shortcomings of this car. I'd like some advice on what I can "do myself"...the cars not worth servicing...cheaper to get another used car, but if i can keep it working for another few months, I'd be thrilled. Thank you for your time, I know you're busy.

Answer
No problem John.
You may have a few dead cylinders. First off those V plugs are junk use the original parts you will never reap the benefits of them on an old car. now back to your question you may have a misfire or multiple misfires. The coils are really hard to get to on that engine they are tucked up under the engine so to speak. a quick check would be to pull the wires off the coils 2 at a time both of the ones on each coil. mark them so you put them back on the same way you took them off. have a helper crank the engine and see if the spark jumps between the 2 coils. Try this on all 3 of them 2 wires at a time. if you find that they all have spark get a spark checker and the parts store and check it at each plug follow the directions on the package. If you don't have any spark on a coil take it off the module and if you have an OHM meter handy check the resistance between the towers where the wires attach it could have around 6,000 Ohm resistance. also check it where the 2 pins from the module plug into the coil it should have less than 1 ohm. If you don't have a meter just swap that coil with the one next to it. If the no spark follows that coil to that position it's a coil problem. If if fires when swapped to that position then the Ignition module is to blame. Good luck and I tried to make it as easy as possible. This is going on you though of multiple cylinder misfiring. It may have a base engine mechanical issue where just one cylinder is dead and then it could have a whole lot of other things wrong. Sticking rings burnt valve etc.. Those engines are pretty bullet proof they have been making it in some shape of form for over 20 years so it's pretty proven. But you never know.. Hope it helps Write back to let me know if I was close...