another car problem: loss of power
 

Do we have a forum for non-BMW problems cause I didn't see a better place to put this.

I also have a 95 Rodeo 3.2L that's got 120k miles. It was my first car, also my backup car now.

I know there are probably a lot of answers to this question about loss of power but here goes: my Rodeo is making a lot of hissing noise underneath when hitting the gas - also sounds like I don't even have a muffler - loud exhaust (actually loud even at idle). Probably a hole in the exhaust pipe after all these years of road salt, etc. - I can hear the noise echo off barriers and other cars as I drive by. Is this alone enough to cause loss of power?

I hit the accelerator like I used to but it's just not getting the same pick-up... takes forever to even get to 40mph from a red light if you know what I mean. Could another part underneath be damaged - catalytic converter contribute to power?

An exhaust leak will cause reduced back pressure, and it will contribute to less power. Newer cars will notice this leak and attempt to compensate, but not in something like your Rodeo. Since it sounds like you know you have a leak, I'd take it to any exhaust shop and see if they'll inspect it for free, but make sure they point out an obvious leak before you pay to have anything repaired. Just an FYI - both cats failed on my 7 at seperate times. One rattled, then other simply clogged up so badly I could hardly keep an idle. At no point did I ever get a CEL light. IF the shop concludes you need to replace your cat(s), Magnaflow makes great universal replacements...i got mine for $200 including installation.