1999 Automatic Saturn SL1 Hesistation

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.

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.

Start by checking fuel pump pressure to see if it is within spec.

How do I check the fuel pump pressure? Hopefully it's without tools..

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lets see what saturntech says.

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.

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?

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

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.

Let us know if it helps.

The newer saturn S model fuel filters arent under the hood there mounted on the driverside back by the tank.

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?

Oh yea does it come with the fuel pressure regulator or do I buy that separate?

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.

Ok cool, I'll give it a shot this weekend. I'll let you guys know.

Your welcome keep us posted.

Oh, btw guys, I drove it this morning and it runs much smoother..What the hell?

Was also notified that if I replace the fuel filter I'd have to replace the fuel pump.

Who told you if you replace the fuel filter you have to replace the fuel pump?I have worked for saturn over 16yrs and no for a fact that is a fairy tale someone is trying spin.There is a seperate fuel filter from the fuel pump and its easy to change.As far as your car running good could be the water sloshed around away from the pump the fuel pressure regulator is working at the moment.Thats why i and jacobandnicklos suggested checking the fuel pressure when it was acting up.

Sorry, wrong thing I was looking at. What I'm going to do is burn out the gas in now, go to another station, and fill it with midgrade/high grade and Seafoam (since it's both a water remover and cleaner). I talked to a master used car mechanic (that was his title, no idea) at the same dealership I bought the car from and he said that it sounds like really bad gas.

Let me clarify, when I talked to someone else they tried to swindle me into both. I returned to the dealership I bought it from and said it sounded like bad gas. I'm kind of surprised since most dealership mechanics aren't as...honest? Just shocked me that he didn't try to swindle me like the other place tried.

Thats why i never made the big bucks when i worked at the dealers i was always honest and tred to save the customers money.Dont know much about the sea foam except that its really popular.I know one of the best fuel cleaners is the chervon techron thats the ones saturn had us use.It does really sound like bad gas though with water in it or something else.I dont think i asked this but has the check engine light ever come on while driving?Also if you can find something called BG44K made that is a excellent fuel cleaner as well we used to use it at the saturn dealer as well.

No the check engine light has only come on once and that was years ago because they forgot to reset the light cause they changed the oil. Awwww I would have paid you big bucks you seem like a really sweet and honest guy. You and jacob have helped me a lot.

The 1999 saturn S models dont have a oil change light they didnt start that on the S model till 2000.I have a 1999 SL2 I love it have had it over 5yrs have put almost 100,000 miles on it since i have had it.The S model saturns are my favorite model i have worked on and driven every model saturn has ever made.I think they should have never stopped making the S model saturn.I was really sad when saturn went out of bussiness i really put my heart into saturn.

My dad works for GM and he was sad as well that they got rid of Saturn. I really appreciate you helping me with this, I'm so scared it's going to die on me. I'm just a college kid trying to make my way and I can't afford another car. Plus I'm in debt enough from school so a car loan is absolutely daunting for me right now.

We will be here to help you with your car issues the best we can.The main thing on that car is always make sure the oil is full.Those cars tend to burn oil but as long as you keep oil in them they will run a long time.Does the car use oil?

Lol every 3000 miles I change the oil and the oil filter. I baby that car odr at least I try to, I mean, every time I even felt something was wrong with the car I have taken it some where to get it checked out. Pretty soon I need to get it winterized.

Well keep us posted on how you make out with your problem you have been having.

Ok, filled it with midgrade and Seafoam, only filled it with a few gallons so the mix would be concentrated. Started to put-put, I assume that's the Sea Foam working whatever it is out. Talked to the guys at Advanced about it, they also thought it was water in the tank so they suggested that I only fill it with a few gallons of mid grade, pour in the Sea Foam, then when I need gas again, fill it at a quarter of a tank full with midgrade and another can of Sea Foam, go on the interstate, and burn it out. I hope to God the put put is the car working out the crap.

Just so you know your car runs and runs best on regular unleaded gas putting a higher octane in it is a waste of money.As far as the seafoam not sure if that has a fuel drier in it.Also you need to becareful with only putting a few gallons of gas and a whole can of cleaner that is designed to mix with a full tank of gas.I dont care what some sales clerk at a auto parts store says you can damage your engine with too strong of a mixture of fuel cleaner and gas.

Great..so I just wrecked my engine?

I'm going to go fill it all the way now, **** I'm such an idiot.

I didnt say you damaged your engine i said you need to be careful doing that because you can i would fill the tank with gas to help prevent thay from happening.The guys at the auto parts stores mean well but most of them dont have a lot of car repair expernice.For instance a guy at my church has a ford ranger pick up truck bought fuel filter they told him how to change it and he ruined his fuel line taking there advice.I tried to take the filter off for him and couldn get it off.What a expensive lesson he learned.

Your not a idiot your just learning about cars everyone cant know everything about everything