Help With Loss Of Power

[rionlane]

So, the other day I was driving along fine when I came to a stop light, take off as normal and my car instantly bogged down and would not accelerate as normal.I got it back home (1/2 mile away) and put it in park .
It idles a little rough but the biggest thing is that (in park) when I step on the gas it goes up to 3000rom and then automatically drops down to around (fluctuating) 2000rpm.
While driving it, it crawls up to speed VERY slowly.
I took it down the street to have a car shop look at it and the guy took it around the block. He said that he was 90% sure it was the catalytic converter.

Since I only paid $1500 for it and it has body damage I don't want to sink TOO much into getting running (already put $2000 into it).

This is on a 1992 Lexus SC400 4.0L 1UZ-FE (Stock)
So here are the symptoms:
-Loss of Power/ Slow acceleration
-gas smell from exhaust on both ends
-exhaust pipe directly after catalytic converter on passenger side reaches almost 300F (catalytic converter ~ 170F at normal operating temp)
-engine does not overheat

So here is what I have done after the problem happened:

-check ALL fluid levels (they are good)
-replaced ALL spark plugs and wires
-sprayed bolt loosener on back bolts of the catalytic converter that was over heating near pipe
-Put up on stands to get under the car
-Checked the temperature of the entire exhaust system running from manifolds to tail pipe

I have looked and it seems like it is a pretty hard job to get those catalytic converters off.
Any help would be appreciated

[rionlane]

Well, I took the cable off of the driver's side ignition coil and started it. It ran just like it did before.
Then to test it, I took the other side off and plugged the driver's side back in and it wouldn't turn over at all!

So it looks like I'm off to the store to grab an ignition coil. Will update when I get it installed.

[rionlane]

+++++++SOLVED++++++++

That did the trick! The little screws that hold the coil onto the bracket were a little rough to get off but the car now runs better than it did before the problem.

[mitmit31]

hey man i have the same so you just replaced the ignition coils?

[Artstrart]

Had the same issue. Replaced the drivers side coil closest to the radiator - fine. Havent used a MAF in over a year. Sounds like a hot-rod just camming . Crazy. Everyone wants to know what I have done to it; absolutely nothing ! Disconnected my MAF and played with the TPS... and all my friends admire my car because of the way it sounds. I guess "basic" programming took over and wouldn't change it for the world!