Saturn 1.9L Problem Tip

[Beast of Busco]

This is an FYI for any Saturn owners out there with a 1.9 L engine (SOC or DOC).

Here's what happened to me. I have an '01 SL1 w/ 57k on it. When the weather got cold, it just so happened that the car started to idle rough and sound like it wanted to die at the stop light or when it was parked. My MPG dropped more than normal also. I thought I could probably use new spark plugs and some Fuel Injector cleaner. So I did that, but still had the same problem.

A couple days go by, the Service Engine Soon light came on, so I went to Autozone. They said the Intake air temperature sensor had a problem, and if it happened again to come back. About that time I went to www.saturnfans.com and got some helpful information about potential problems, including the the problematic coolant temperature sensor. Since the two sensors (IATS and the ECTS) were cheap, I replaced them, but that didn't help either.

Since I was tired of dealing with it (plus it was VERY cold here!) I took the car to the Napa garage where we've done business for many years, and they got a P0300 engine misfire code. They of course recommended a full tune-up. I explained that I just changed the plugs.....but they said that the fuel filter should be replaced. It is an expensive part, but I said "okay, go ahead."

That didn't help; still misfiring.

I brought the car home, and with the help of saturnfans.com (and a can of throttle body cleaner!), I found that the intake manifold gasket was leaking around cylinder #1. This was causing the idle problems all along.

Evidently this is a problem with Saturn 1.9L engines, so if anyone out there has any similar problems, take a look at this before you spend any money on something else!

 

[troberts7]

Hey Beast,
I'm having the same problem with my wife's 99 SL2. I replaced the IAC and the Coolant temp sensor (it was cracked). Now it idles around 900 RPM hot (down from 1300 or so). Haynes says it should idle around 550-600 or so so I have been looking for leaks in and around the intake manifold. Still can't find it spraying with throttle cleaner - I hit the # 1 intake real well with it an no idle change.

Now my plan is to check out the vaccum lines that lead to the purge valve going to the charcoal canister - I saw a blurb about this in the Saturnfans forum. I know something as simple as a leaking gas cap can cause this - leave it to me to check this last! Hey do get a sucking sound when you remove the cap? I really want to avoid pulling the intake.

 

[jamesn]

you should not get a sucking sound or vapors coming out of the gas tank ever. you have something wrong in your evap system. probably a stuck valve in there somewhere. this happened on my old toyota truck. it blew the gas cap out of your hand in the summer. stuck purge valve to the canister. only cost about 20 bucks but it was really hard to get to. i had to drop the tank. broke one of the places where the tank strap held to in the process. spent the next 3 years driving it using a 10 gallon marine gas tank bolted to the bed. gas smell? what gas smell?