1997 Saturn SL1 SL1 unsteady RPM

Tiny
SUCKYTHESATURN
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 SATURN SL1
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 113,000 MILES
My check engine light is on, my gas milage is horrible 10-15 if it's raining and my rpm randomly goes up and down while driving or just idling even, it kind of bucks like a while horse or bull, and It doesn't like to get up to any sort of highway acceptable speed. I checked for codes several times once it said P0341. I had an oil problem and was not firing in one of the cylindars because plug was fouling but put in hotter plugs and a nonfouler. It had an issue with the coolant temp sensor and the fan was never coming on so changed that and still the fan doesn't come on. I pulled it out and left it unplugged, fan is on all the time which sucks but it runs a bit better. It's revving up and down and all over the place even when just in idle so I changed the tps. Crank shaft sensor was also changed. Cleaned out just about everything I could find. My wires are fine, had an oil change, I dont know what is wrong. I have done everything I can think of hoping maybe it was just a lil of everything but no such luck.
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 AT 9:50 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
U didn't leave the coolant temp sensor unplugged did u?U said u replaced it and the fan still didn't come on u said u took it out and left it unplugged.U also said the cooling fan stays on all the time that's no good ur car never gets up to operating temp. Try this let the car idle and take each spark plug wire off one at a time then put it back on enough so spark doesn't get to that plug and see if ur rpm gets lower showing each plug is firing. If any don't change the way the egine runs then let me know which cyclinders don't change. Let me know what u find.
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Tuesday, May 11th, 2010 AT 11:25 PM
Tiny
SUCKYTHESATURN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Yeah I left it unplugged. It gets up to a decent opperating temp just fine with it tho. All the cylindars are firing. I checked that yesterday morning. Ive been running hi octane in it and it's seems to be helping a bit.
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Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 AT 8:23 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Well if u have ur coolant temp sensor unplugged that's one of ur problems with it unplugged it will read engine temp back to the PCM -40 degrees causing the engine to run way too rich. Check the coolant temp sensor connector see if it's corroded that might be why ur fan didn't work correctly when u replaced the sensor. If it's corroded u will have to replace it. We need to start with getting the coolant temp sensor hooked back up. Then we can figure out what else is wrong with ur car. Also I would only run 87 low octane fuel ur car has a low compression engine and doesn't need the higher octane fuel it's just a waste of money. Let me know when u get the coolant sensor hooked back up and the connector checked out for being corroded.
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Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 AT 8:38 PM

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