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1999 Automatic Saturn SL1 Hesistation

Tiny
BLZNHOT18
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 SATURN SL1
Ok so, had this problem two weeks ago:

Low coolant light was on and has been coming on every morning and it will shut off after the car warms up. < This was my initial visit to my dealership. And THEN this starts happening: the car hesitates when first accelerating from a stop light. I can feel it lag, like a small*****. Then, while its in idle it will shutter slightly. I have taken it to my dealership and no codes pop up. They checked the coolant and said nothing was wrong with it. Since taking it to the dealership the light went off. HOWEVER, they couldn't find the problem with the hesitation and the shutter. So I filled it up with some STP fuel injector cleaner and everything was fine for TWO WEEKS. Well I could still feel the***** but not so much but the shutter was gone.

TODAY: I had to fill up again this morning and the problem has re-appeared with the slight***** and the shudder. My dad thinks it's the fuel injectors but I'm not sure. Please HELP!
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 9:47 PM

84 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,724 POSTS
It could be dirty injectors. You may want to try switching fuel stations. Also, check to see if there are any vacuum leaks on the engine.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 9:50 PM
Tiny
BLZNHOT18
  • MEMBER
  • 47 POSTS
Well this will be my second bottle of STP fuel injector cleaner. The lag was still there though even after the first bottle of STP, it just got worse when I filled up today. I've been going there for years without any problems. I can't tell if this is an injector issue or a pump issue or a filter issue. Nothing was wrong with the engine or trans they told me.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 9:58 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,724 POSTS
Start by checking fuel pump pressure to see if it is within spec.
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Wednesday, October 12th, 2011 AT 11:47 PM
Tiny
BLZNHOT18
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  • 47 POSTS
How do I check the fuel pump pressure? Hopefully it's without tools.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 12:21 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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You need a fuel pressure gauge, but most parts stores will lend you one. As far as directions, go to our homepage under the DIY section for detailed instructions and a video showing it done.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 12:30 AM
Tiny
BLZNHOT18
  • MEMBER
  • 47 POSTS
Well my problem is, I've also read that fuel pumps just go bad and die they don't get better and then crap out again. That's what's happening now, the***** got better and the shudder dissapeared until I refueled.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 12:42 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Just to add to this one I have seen those fuel pumps intermintly go from normal fuel pressure to like 20psi and run like crap.I have also seen the fuel filters cause issues because they contain your fuel pressure regulator. It sounds fuel related though havent really seen the injectors have clog issues.A bad injector here and there but those are awesome injectors when they fail usually from what I have seen you will get a dead hole. How many miles do you have on your car?Have you ever changed the fuel filter they get changed every 100,000 miles and by then they are arealmost plugged solid. You could also have water in your tank I have seen that cause all kinds of dieing and not starting bucking etc when ever it feels like it. As far as the fuel cleaner I would use chevron techron cleaner the expensive bottle thats what the mnufactures use when they have fuel issues. Also a good fuel drier not a cheap one I would run thru the tank. You might want to try changing gas stations also.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 12:57 AM
Tiny
BLZNHOT18
  • MEMBER
  • 47 POSTS
I've got 73,000 miles on the car and I don't believe the fuel filter has been changed from the previous owner. I'm putting my money on the fuel filter though but I will take the car to Advance and see if I can use their fuel pump pressure gauge. It just seems strange that everything was just fine or getting better and then it gets worse after refueling.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 1:06 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,724 POSTS
Does it only happen when you fill the tank? Have you ever overfilled the tank? Saturntech, could it be getting raw into the EVAP?

By the way, you got the best tech dealing with Saturn vehicles. I go to him with some of the questions I get.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 1:18 AM
Tiny
BLZNHOT18
  • MEMBER
  • 47 POSTS
Yes that's how it seems to be, when I filled it this afternoon from almost E the lagging got worse and the shudder came back while it was idle. I hardly over fill my tank, like I may round to the next dollar but I don't like fill it into the neck or anything.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 1:24 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Lets see what saturntech says.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 1:26 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I have seen the fuel pressure regulators fail in the fuel filters long before the 100,000 miles comes around to change them. Also its sounding more and more like the gas your putting into the tank sounds like water in the fuel. Since water is heavier then gas it sits on the bottom of the tank slooshing around and waiting to get picked up by the fuel pump. As far as over filling the tank and getting it in the evap really havent come across it. Also look under the back of your car and see if the gas tank looks all sucked up?I would try a differnt gas station some good fuel drier and some of that chevron fuel cleaner. Checking the fuel pressure wouldnt hurt ethier when the cr is acting up.I know auto zone rent the fuel pressure gauges.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 1:46 AM
Tiny
BLZNHOT18
  • MEMBER
  • 47 POSTS
What does it mean if the tank looks all sucked up? They lifted the car and didn't mention anything about the tank. I'm assuming that would be very noticeable in the air. I guess I shouldn't go to WaWa anymore. I'll get a fuel drier as well when I go to purchase the fuel filter. Now, I'm seeing two things one thing that looks like a silver car part and the other that looks likea regular filter. Which do I want?
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 1:55 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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I attached a picture of the filter you need. It is steel and is
under the hood, driver side on the rear side of the strut tower mounted on side of frame rail in fuel line
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 2:02 AM
Tiny
BLZNHOT18
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  • 47 POSTS
Okidokie, I got under the car and nothing looks sucked in. Thanks for the picture I'll be sure to buy one, the drier, and the chevron cleaner.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 2:11 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Let us know if it helps.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 2:13 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The newer saturn S model fuel filters arent under the hood there mounted on the driverside back by the tank.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 2:18 AM
Tiny
BLZNHOT18
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  • 47 POSTS
Can I use the fuel drier and the chevron cleaner at the same time? Should I use them after I install the new fuel filter?
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 2:22 AM
Tiny
BLZNHOT18
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  • 47 POSTS
Oh yea does it come with the fuel pressure regulator or do I buy that separate?
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 2:27 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The fuel pressure regulator is built into the fuel filter I would change the filter then put the drier and chevron cleaner they can be added together.
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Thursday, October 13th, 2011 AT 12:42 PM

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