Losing power on hills

Tiny
JOYOUS_5
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 SATURN L200
  • 15,000 MILES
My dependable car is having problems with hills recently. It loses power and can't seem to go more than 35-40 mph. This is a problem on the interstate especially. The thermometer rises to the halfway point and the RPMS don't go over 4 when this happens.

Also, not sure if this is related, but the check engine light keeps coming off, then going off--for the past two weeks or so. It never stays on longer than a couple of days.

Any help or ideas you can offer would be greatly appreciated--thanks so much!
Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 AT 12:52 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The first thing I would check when its acting up is take it to a exhaust shop and have the back pressure tested. Do you ever have to let up on the gas for it to shift?Also take to a auto parts store like auto zone and have the codes scanned let me know the exact code numbers not the code descriptions.
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Tuesday, September 6th, 2011 AT 1:04 AM
Tiny
JOYOUS_5
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks so much for your quick response. I brought it in to the shop after it gave me a scare yesterday on my way to work--it was an oxygen sensor. Thanks again!
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Thursday, September 8th, 2011 AT 12:18 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Did they ever check the exhaust back pressure too when it was acting up?Those cars dont usually do that from a bad o2 sensor.
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Thursday, September 8th, 2011 AT 4:09 PM

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