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1999 Saturn SL1 Idle and rich fuel

Tiny
ACHDRIVER03
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 SATURN SL1
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 111,000 MILES
Hi I hope you are able to help me. My car has is a 99 Saturn SL manual. It has been running great since I bought it in october but recently I took it to get an emissions test and a host of codes came up. I fixed all of them but I am unable fix the code p0172. So far I have replaced the egr, iac, fuel purge valve, maf, ects, o2 sensor. Additionally I gave the car a tune up when I bought it; new plugs wires, coil, ect. So right now I am lost at trying to figure out what the problem might be. There are no vaccum leaks as far as I can tell and the only other problem might be the fuel injectors, but those to I can find no real problem with. The car runs beautiful except at start when it idles at about 1200-1500rpm until it is warm then at 800rpm. This I think is normal. Any ideas on how to fix this. I need to pass emissions so I can drive. Thanks
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010 AT 8:49 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
First of all thank you so much for your donation. Your car doesn't have a maf sensor did you mean a map sensor?Also when you changed your ect sensor did you inspect your connector to it?If it's corroded you will have to replace the connector too.A code p0172 is a uncommon code for that model.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010 AT 9:00 PM
Tiny
ACHDRIVER03
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I in fact did mean a map sensor. I checked the connection and it seemed to be okay, no corrosion and the wires looked fine too. This seems to be a very difficult code to fix.
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Thursday, July 1st, 2010 AT 9:34 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I emailed you some information on your code p0172. Do you have a scan tool by chance that can read live engine data?Also there is a S shaped hose going from the intake manifold to the valve cover I want you to inspect that for hole's, leak's, being colasped if it is any of these thing's replace it. Also I want you to see what your fuel pressure is you can rent a fuel pressure tester at auto zone for free you just have to leave a deposit. Also if you can rent a back pressure gauge then rent that as well if you have too high of fuel pressure or too much back pressure this code will set. Also while the car idle's get some carb spray and spray around all the hose's and and around the intake where it meet's the head. Especially around the intake by the power steering pump. If the idle goe's up or down the engine stumble's or die's then you have a vacuum leak. Let's start with that let me know what you find.
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Friday, July 2nd, 2010 AT 12:02 PM
Tiny
JF781981
  • MEMBER
  • 52 POSTS
Just wondering on this subject, that s shaped hose that your talking about can you spray carb cleaner on that too? Or no? Just curious.

Thanks
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Sunday, February 26th, 2012 AT 4:21 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Yes that is a vacuum hose and its common for them to colaspse and leak. If it leaks or is colasped replace the hose.
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Sunday, February 26th, 2012 AT 5:32 PM
Tiny
JF781981
  • MEMBER
  • 52 POSTS
Thanks so much. I recently replaced my coolant temp sensor and valve cover gasket at same time and after that, the same code came on for me. Been driving me nuts. P0172 read this and noticed the hose you mentioned on the valve cover. I bought the carb cleaner to try spraying everything tonight when the car is home just did not know if spraying that particular hose would harm anything being it goes to the valve cover and was worried about the cleaner getting into the oil. Would that also cause an issue where every once in a while, while driving if I am going between 50 and 60 the gears will shift smooth but if driving same speed for a while and slowly try to accelerate up it will choke a little as if the engine is gasping for air? Would that p0172 system too rich code be the reason for that as well?

Thanks
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Sunday, February 26th, 2012 AT 5:40 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Just noticed that you wernt the user that asked the question so I need you to start your own question.I dont like to answer new questions on someone elses question out of respect for the person that asked the question to start with. Also it just gets way too confusing. So if you start our own question I will be more then happy to help you. Just start the question off by saying this one is for saturntech9 and they will leave the question for me. Followed by the details year engine dohc or single cam engine. Then all the details of your question what was done and found etc.
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Sunday, February 26th, 2012 AT 11:44 PM

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