I got my Saturn in August 2012, I have had no.

Tiny
DARWINSTI
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 SATURN VUE
  • 120,000 MILES
I got my saturn in August 2012, I have had no problems until I recently ran the gas down until the light came on, refilled the tank with 89 octane, noticed a miss during driving, then noticed when starting, black smoke and carbon deposits from the tailpipe. Have changed the plugs, and air filter(as it was dirty), and put gas treatment in the tank. Still has the miss during idle and driving, though slight but noticable and still has black carbon deposits coming out of the tailpipe. Im at a loss, and although im a female, im not adverse to getting my hands dirty on my own vehicle so ill do anything that "I" can, to avoid having to pay a big mechanics bill. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
Thursday, December 13th, 2012 AT 12:39 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Any codes in the computer?Which engine do you have 4 or 6cyl?You could have gotten some bad gas if it ran fine till the last fill up.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, December 13th, 2012 AT 2:24 AM
Tiny
DARWINSTI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
It is a 4 cyl and the check engine light has been on since I got it but there is no code showing when we do the system check with the tester. Someone said it was a ghost code? Yeah, there hasnt been any issue with it up until I ran it to the light comming on and filling up at a station that I don't normally use.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, December 13th, 2012 AT 2:28 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Sounds like you may have gotten some bad gas try getting a good fuel drier and add it to the tank to see if that helps. Also when you checked for a code did you use a diyer scan tool?If so there might a code in another computer other than the engine or transmission computers because thats all those will read. If the lights on you have a code in one of the computers.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, December 13th, 2012 AT 6:27 AM
Tiny
DARWINSTI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Strike the "no Code" remark, there is a P0000 showing when I took it to my dads and used his obd11 tester. Now there is another issue, the radiator fan comes on within 15-20 seconds of starting the car, and runs until the engine is shut off. I removed the high fan relay and it stopped, but I now dont hear it at all. The temperature gage comes up as it normally has with no issues. Everything else has smoothed out. I think it said the P0000 code was something to do with the oxygen and the fuel? Any suggestions.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 25th, 2012 AT 12:02 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Please make sure the code is correct I have never seen that code before. Also with the fan staying on while it running is usually caused by a really bad miss fire. How much gas did you put in when you filled the tank?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 25th, 2012 AT 12:20 AM
Tiny
DARWINSTI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Put in 3/4 tank but already ran that out and have put 1/2 tank in twice since. There is a very very slight notice of miss or hesitation and that is only when I am driving out of the neighborhood as it is only 20 mph. At the higher speeds, I don't notice it and the acceleration is smooth from there on. The code is driving me nuts, as you said, it seems like a "dummy" code of some kind. The guy down the block said his sisters saturn had the code also and the dealer told her it was something to do with the oxygen and gas mixture not being right? I do still have the black carbon deposits from the tailpipe upon starting but nothing after the initial start. The fan however, is worrying me, I took the high an relay out an it stopped running, however, it doesn't seem to come on at all. But the temperature gage still reads as normal, coming up to operating temperature as usual. I wonder if I just leave the relay out, will it cause a problem as long as it doesn't overheat?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 25th, 2012 AT 12:33 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The lowest code for the 4 cyl engine starting with a P P0105 I don't see your P0000 nor have I ever seen that code on those vues. Also I have worked for Saturn for over 16yrs and I am a factory trained tech on that model. Also most of the time when the fans stay on like that its caused by a miss fire. When you start it up does the low speed fan come on then the high speed fan kicks on next?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 25th, 2012 AT 12:47 AM
Tiny
DARWINSTI
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Not sure, I didn't know there were 2 fans as I hadnt looked under there that well evidentally. I will have to check on that and get back to you. Like I said, there was no issue what so ever untill I ran the gas low, (light came on), then put gas in from a station I don't normally use, all grads of things happened then, bad hucklebucking, carbon deposits, and sucky power. I changed the plugs, changed the fuel filter, and changed the air filter as it was totally fiflthy(salesman said all maintenance was done when the got it. Bs). The changes I did, cleared up most all of the problems but I recall now thinking about it, the fan was steadily coming on more frequently over the past 3-4 weeks untill the past 5 days or so it comes on after starting and stays on. My brother is bringing his tester over tomorrow and im going to see what that says. I really can't afford to put 1-2,000 into this thing as I just paid 2400 for it in august. I trust your knowledge and hope my information makes some assemblance of sense to you. I apologise if not, being a woman, I try as much as I can to work on my own vehicles, as I feel more comfortable knowing what is being done, and if I screw it up I can't blame anyone but me.

Thanks in advance for any future help.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 25th, 2012 AT 1:22 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Sounds like there was water and who knows what else in the gas you got.I would run the tank down to absolutely no gas I mean the engine stops running then refuel with fresh gas and a good fuel drier and see how it runs from there?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 25th, 2012 AT 1:54 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links