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95 Saturn SL2 high idle/stalling problems

Tiny
VEGASBJ247
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 SATURN SL2
  • 107,000 MILES
Hi, I have a 95 saturn sl-2 that has been having idle problems and stalling. The idle will rise to 2000 rpms or so when I start it then slowly come down to between 1000 and 1300. And sometimes the idle will be high and then out of nowhere the idle will drop to the normal 6-700 rpms. It also stalls occasionally. I have changed the iac, the tps, I cleaned the throttle body and the intake, I put a new map sensor on and still wont fix it. I brought the car to some guys house and he scanned it and the maps code came up but when I put it on it didn't do anything. Maybe he just had a cheap scanner. Do I need a new pcm? Or what could be the problem. Please help me, I dont know what else to do and the car is using more gas than necessary because of the high idle.
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Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 AT 4:13 PM

26 Replies

Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
Anyone check for intake gasket leaks?
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
VEGASBJ247
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  • 10 POSTS
Yes they are fine
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Just to add to this one has anyone checked the coolant temp sensor the bottom one with two wires going to it?Its very common for them to fail and will cause high idles stall no starts all kinds of issues. Also inspect the inside of the connector if the terminals are green or blue instead of silver you will have to replace the connector also. Its real common for the sensors to crack and leak coolant into the connector. Alot of people over look a bad coolant temp sensor on those cars.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
VEGASBJ247
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
How does that affect the idol? Im open to anything but that doesnt make sense.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If the coolant temp sensor reads colder then actual temp the computer will raise the idol.I have replaced hundreds of these sensors for high idols surging while driving no starts overheating all kinds of symptoms. Iam a factory trained saturn tech worked for saturn for over 16yrs so I know these cars inside and out. Have done everything on your car bumper to bumper. Thats why the coolant temp sensor is usually over looked.A lot of people dont relize how that temp sensor can affect the way the engine runs. It tells the computer the engine temp if the computer gets the incorrect temp it can under or over fuel the engine.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I have even seen a bad coolant temp sensor cause the idle to surge up and and down over and over again.I have seen them when they go bad have a 30-40 degree flux change up and down while the car is running.I saw one that was over a hundered degrees off temp wise. It may not make sense to you but makes sense to me I have seen them do some oretty crazy things that even suprized me it was a bad coolant temp sensor.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
VEGASBJ247
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Im not trying to second guess you. Ill give that a try and let u know what happens. Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Make sure its the bottom one with the yellow wire and black wire going to it. Also inspect the inside of the connector if the terminals arent silver replace the connector also.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
VEGASBJ247
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I replaced the temp sensor and checked the wires and its ok. So now what should I do. I was really hoping thats the problem. Any suggestions?
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So you replaced the bottom sensor with two wires going to it?It still does the same thing with the new sensor?Also is the check engine light on any codes?You mentioned a map code I didnt pick up on earlier?What is the exact code number you have?You can flash the codes out without a scan tool on that car.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
VEGASBJ247
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  • 10 POSTS
The check engine light only comes on every now and then. How do you flash the codes?
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I posted the way to flash the codes out if the low coolant light flashes those will be your transmission codes. Let me know the exact code numbers you have.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
VEGASBJ247
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I have a code 32 which I guess is the egr valve. Im going to try to get one at the junkyard and if it doesn't work I will buy a new one unless u can suggest anything else.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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The egr sticking open makes perfect sense what I would is remove the egr valve. Then turn it upside down take a small pocket screw driver push the pintle all the way down till it seats at the bottom of its travel. Then slowly release it and see if it sticks open.I would try to clean it if it was sticking open get some carbon cleaner sea foam etc. Turn the egr valve upside down then open the pintle and pour some cleaner in the open allow it to soak being upside down. Make sure you get some cleaner on the opening also. Then after its soaked for atleast an hour spin the pintle with a screw driver while pushing the pintle up and down in the opening. Then rinse it off good with some brake cleaner. Then recheck it like I told you before to see if its still sticking. Thats what I would try if it was my car you have nothing to lose for trying.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
VEGASBJ247
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I put a new egr on. When u change the part if its fixed it should change right away right? Or do I have to drive the car around for the computor to kick in? Im slowly learning about these computor cars.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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It should be fixed right away is the car high idling or stalling anymore?
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
VEGASBJ247
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I feel hella dumb but after all the things I was reading your tips and realized that I changed the top temperature sensor instead of the bottom and I changed the bottom and yahtzee! The car runs great! You are the man and I am a moron. I really want to thank you for all your advice because I would of never got this car fixed without you. I know some halfway descent mechanics who were helping and it turns out they didnt know anything. Thanks again and you are the man. Thank you!
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Your welcome thats what were here for glad to hear you got it fixed saturns are my speciality. Like I said before a lot of people will over look the coolant temp sensor.I hope you looked inside the connector for corroded terminals?
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
VEGASBJ247
  • MEMBER
  • 10 POSTS
Yes I checked the terminal and they are okay. Once again your the man!Ts been a frustrating week but thanks for your help with this car. Your the man!
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Your welcome if you have anymore questions let me know. Just start a new question and start it off with this one is for saturntech9. That way they will leave the question for me to answer.
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 AT 11:35 AM

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