Engine lack of power

Here is a diagram showing the spark plug leads attached to a coil pack:

Ignition coil
Spark plug lead
Spark plug
In this diagram, the ignition coil is at the center and is connected to the spark plug leads, which are in turn connected to the spark plugs. The spark plugs are located at the end of each spark plug lead and are responsible for igniting the fuel in the engine's cylinders.

In a typical engine, there will be one ignition coil for each cylinder, and the spark plugs will be connected to the ignition coils through the spark plug leads. The ignition coil generates a high voltage electrical current, which is transmitted through the spark plug leads to the spark plugs. The spark plugs then use this electrical current to create a spark, which ignites the fuel in the engine's cylinders and powers the vehicle.

The vehicle is 17 years old. It is bound to have mechanical problems. Have you considered getting a newer car?

Sounds like you have a fuel-to-air ratio problem causing you to exhaust raw fuel from your exhaust pipe. you could have bad fuel injector, fuel pump, or carborator, if you don't have fuel injection system. Running that way for extended times will fill your engine with carbon deposits that will need to be cleaned up. Also could lead to excelerated piston ring wear. Be sure spark plugs are working properly to insure fuel is igniting. Since spark plugs are ignited via the distributor and ignition coil(s), this system should be check if spark plugs are having irregular ignition. Check timing to insure distributor is working properly. If you have changed gas from premium to regular, this could reduce your engine power, assuming that timing was adjusted to the previous gas. Check owner's manual for proper fuel usage.

Check the:
1 Cylinder compression/ valve clearance.
2. Ignition system.
3. Spark plugs.
4. Fuel pump pressure.
5. Injectors.

depending on mileage, but possible tune-up could fix it. if already done then check ignition coil pack and ignition wires also spark plugs, check vacuum hoses for leaks or porous, last injectors clogged - use some techron fuel injector cleaner (wal-mart has them). Also get the throttle body and iac valve cleaned by throttle cleaner . Also this other possibilities are to be checked and confirmed.:---- Engine running rough or misfiring can be cause by the following:

1.Defective spark plugs
2.Inadequate spark/coil, defective spark plug wire.
3. Lack of compression
4.False air leakage.
5. Faulty fuel injectors.
6. Insufficient fuel pressure.
7. Contaminated fuel.
8. EGR valve that is leaking.
9. Oxygen sensors.
10. Throttle position sensor.
11. Manifold absolute pressure sensor
12.Mass Airflow Sensor
13.Idle air control valve
--------- This should help.Keep updated.Thanks.Helpmech.

Dear Sir,
As you said engine light is on and misfire with white smoke, it clearly symptom of poor ignition spark may cause of any wire got disconnected or spark plug faulty.
white smoke comes only in case no spark at spark plug and un burn fuel throwing from silencer. check wire and spark plug if any issue let me know. thanks.

Yogesh

how are the plug wires, boosted engine's suffer from voltage leaks in even fairly new plug wires, the added cylinder pressure makes the spark plug require allot more voltage before it can fire compared to normally aspirated engine.

I would suggest you check your coils or your ignition control module. usually parts stores can check theses. anything beyond that i would check and make sure all your wires are plugged in tight and your ground on the block and body is secure and not corroded.

maybe a defective ignition coil, broken high tension wires, rotor, distributor cap and other parts connected to the ignition.

Sounds like the converter is stopped up.