1997 Saturn SL1 car keeps bucking up hills

SHOALIN08

MEMBER
1997 SATURN SL1
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
220,000 MILES

I have a 1997 saturn sl1. It has 220000 miles on it. Recently it has started to buck going up hills. It runs fine on straight aways but when I start going up hills the rpms drop and jump back up and keep doing that and the cars starts to buck. I dont know what it could be I have asked my friends and they arent to sure either. I comute 8 hours round trip every weekend from college to come home so I really dont want to get stuck. Does anyone have any ideas what it could be?

3 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

If u put the a/c on when ur on level ground will it buck then?I would pull the spark plug wires off ur coil towers see if there is white powder on them if there is u will have to replace ur spark plug wires. Also with white powder on the coil towers it will have to be cleaned or the coil replaced. Let me know what u find.

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Sunday, March 14th, 2010 AT 2:16 PM

SHOALIN08

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I pulled the wires off and there is no white powder on them. Also if I turn the A/c on I doenst buck on straightaways. Idk what it could be.

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Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 4:02 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Usually if ur cutting out while driving under a load with a/c on or climbing hills it's usually bad plugs or wires. Check the other end of ur wires where ur wires go onto to ur spark plugs look for black powder in the wire boots. Also look at ur plugs for being worn out on the tip or black powder. Do u have any trouble codes go to a auto parts store like autozone and if u do then let me know what the code numbers are. Let me know what u find.

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