Engine Performance problem
1987 Oldsmobile Firenza 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

1987 Oldsmobile Firenza, 4-cylinder

Problem developed suddenlyandhas been intermittant.
Revs ok in neutral.
Otherwise, when pushing on the gas, develops loud irregular banging soundlike some kind of preignition or detonation, and power drops right off. Sometimes, one can regain some power by flooring it, other times this doesn't work.
Replacing spark plugs didn't help.
What could be wrong?
This is not a cherished classic car, it is an old beater that we are trying hard to keep running until we can buy something better. We live way up in the bush - not near any repair shop - so having any kind of sophisticated scan is not an option.
Help? Thanks.....

Do you have a "check engine light" and if you do, do you know how to retrieve the ECM codes? The banging noise, is it from the exhaust or out the air intake duct? Please advise.

I understand that one can count flashes after connecting terminals A and B in diagnostic connector? I have not, however succeeded in finding a diagnostic connector... where should I look?
The banging occurs just when accelerating, so locating the source is tricky, but it sounds like it is coming from under the hood and not from underneath the car.

The diagnostic connector will be on the very bottom of the dash on the driver's side

I see a connector with 12 cells in 2 rows of six, wires white with black stripe and black with white stripe on top right, tan w. black stripe on other end, orange on bottom right. Should I shove a loop of copper wire in from the back side to connect the white and black wires?

That is the right connector. I nornally use a paper clip stuck in from the front of the connector. I don't remember the wire colors but, I believe it is A & B, the two on the top right. Most of the other terminals will be empty.

Got codes:
flash pause flash, flash... 12
flash,flash pause flash, flash, flash, flash ...would that be 24??
Then it would go back to 12 and repeat.
Note, that service-engine light has been on all the time for years...I HOPE that the code indicates something new.
Any suggestion that would fix the banging/ extreme
power loss even temporarily would be very verywelcome.
Thanks....
Caril

Code 24 is "vehicle speed sensor, VSS". I tells the ECM how fast the vehicle is going. The ECM uses this information to run the cruise control, lock up the torque convertor and other things. You need to more specific about the "banging" noise. I can't hear it so I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. If you can't describe it any better, have someone else listen to it. I really can't help you unless I get better information. The code 24 may or maynot be part of your problem. Please advise, Jim.

Vehicle in park or neutral:
Starts and runs ok, revs ok when given gas, engine sounds normal.

Uphill or accelerating (slow or medium speed, haven't tried fast):
Coughs and loses power badly when given gas; better when you let up on the gas.

Flooring the gas:
OCCASIONALLY catches, stops coughing and takes off.

Code 24, service-engine light has been on constantly for years before this problem appeared.

Re-reading your postings, one question pops up. Have you changed the fuel filter? If not, I would change it. It sounds like the engine is starving for fuel.