2002 Saturn SL1 High RPM w/ WEAK acceleration.

Thank you for the quick reply. Because of my work schedule, I don't believe I'll be able to make it to Autozone during hours until this Wednesday.

Hopefully, by then, I will be able to get and post the codes. Otherwise, I will asap.

Codes:

P0128
P0442

I don't notice a complete cut-off of power. It just seems that it has to work extra hard and burn more RPM's while the mileage climbs up very slowly.

I changed the coolant temp sensor yesterday, and I did not notice damage on the wire connector. This made no difference whatsoever in the behavior of the car. I have ordered a thermostat and quality gas cap to come in the mail. I will perform these jobs and keep you updated.

I changed the spark plugs and the spark plug wires 12 months ago. This was an entire year after the car started displaying these symptoms, so I don't believe them to be a result of the new spark plugs or wires. The change of plugs and wires, as I recall, did not make any difference for the performance, which obviously frustrated me. I am not sure as to what kind of spark plugs they were. I don't have the receipt information anymore, but I recall getting them from Autozone, and not buying the cheapest ones (probably the best quality ones they had), so whatever they typically sell is most likely what I used.

Notably, I recall when pulling out the old spark plugs, that they looked very clean and undamaged. Granted, I'm not experienced, but I held them up to the picture samples in my manual which demonstrate different kinds of damage, and I found no such sign on the old spark plugs.

Back to the power issue: the cold vs. Warm weather sometimes seems to effect the 'acceleration bursts' that occur when hitting the breaks and the switching on and off of the SES light, but to clarify, weather does NOT appear to effect the weak acceleration and lack of engine power. When I start the car, it is weak, and has been weak for two years - No exceptions whatesoever. There is not a single moment of a single day of any season out of the year when my car will actually accelerate as it should and maintain highway speeds without requiring rough use of the gas pedal. It is always, always weak. It's weakness does not turn on and off, at least not that I have perceived.

I suppose I need to learn how to "check the fuel pressure, " and as for the fuel filter. I had it changed 20 months ago when I had the fuel system injected. I remember after I drove away from Jiffy Lube, I perceived a slight improvement, but I'm wondering if this was strictly psychological and a result of my desperate hoping, because within the very same evening or next day, I recall the car was running absolutely weak again.

I will change the thermostat and install the new gas cap asap and get back to you.

I got the thermostat in the mail.

But I've been working during daylight hours every day for seven days in a row, and will have college classes immediately thereafter, for another 5 days in a row.

I should be able to install the thermostat this coming sunday (not tomorrow, but next weekend). I will bear in mind all the things you said and get back to you then.

Thank you.

Unfortunately, I can't work on the car today. I'm struggling in my physics and trig class, and the remaining two courses require alot of reading and writing.

I have to stay on top of my homework.

I'll hopefully get to work on the car next sunday, or the one thereafter. I'm really wishing now I'd begun this business much earlier in the summer, when I had the time.

Hi, I have exactly the same problems, including stains outside the gas door. Saturn l200 2003 4cyl 107k miles. Was there a solution to this?

Desperate. Thank you.

Oh no cel codes or light except one came on last year for bad gas cap but it went away after taking it off and putting it back on