1998 Saturn L300 Engine Noise and Gas Smell

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STEPHANIEMD
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Engine Performance problem
1998 Saturn L300 4 cyl Automatic 111K miles

My car had recently been sputtering. My husband checked out my spark plugs and saw that two were no good. He replaced all 4 and the car stopped sputtering. Today, my car begin to make a stronger sputter and struggled to accelerate when I stepped on the gas. It begin to smell of gas and like something was burning. Any ideas?
Mar 17, 2009 at 1:13 PM
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JAMES W.
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
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Does the fuel smell appear to come from the engine compartment or from the exhaust? If engine compartment, check for a leaking injector, any thing along the fuel rail or fuel pressure regulator.
Mar 17, 2009 at 2:13 PM
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STEPHANIEMD
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The smell seems to be coming from the engine compartment. What would be the wrost case scenario?
Mar 17, 2009 at 2:44 PM
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JAMES W.
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 2,394 POSTS
You really haven't given me much to go on for a worse case scenario. But, from your short description I would think maybe your catalitic converter may be plugged. This would cause all the symptoms you described. Let me know.
Mar 17, 2009 at 5:03 PM
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