Engine cylinders are not firing - misfire

Tiny
PANTHERIAS
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 SATURN SL2
  • 1.9L
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 186,000 MILES
My tranny blew on highway and just got it fixed and ever since they changed transmission and did new rad I have no working car WtheHell did they do? :( Do I need a new engine? They are trying to change crankshaft sensor see if the helps.I'm lost on what to do please help me Thank you and your team of experts for taking the time to read this.
Lisa
Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 AT 7:48 PM

25 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If you have only two cylinders firing its not a bad crankshaft position sensor if it failed the engine shuts off.Sounds like they may have crossed the spark plug wires on the coil packs when they changed the transmission. I would start by making sure the spark plug wires are routed correctly. This guide can help us fix it

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/engine-misfires-or-runs-rough

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 AT 8:41 PM
Tiny
AUTUMN2
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2002 SATURN SL2
  • 115,000 MILES
My saturn 2002 sl2, started to misfire a few days ago while driving after I was in park with car running for several mins. I would give it gas and it would barely move. It did this for a few days and ran the p0300 code and the cam sensor code. I changed plugs and wires, and it ran fine until today, I was stopped at train and the engine wasnt over heating (per my gages), heat was off but it started to blow hot hot hot air down by my feet. It stopped and I continued on. After work I was stopped in a drive through and car gage did advise I was started to overheat. I turned heat on and it cooled down. I continued on way and felt that hot hot hot air on my feet again. Very hot. Car then dropped to five miles per hour while it was floored. I got in driveway, and it was shaking bad like something under car was gnna xplode. I shut it off. Went out an hour later and its running fine again.?
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,758 POSTS
You might want to have it tested for a restricted catalytic converter.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
AUTUMN2
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thank you. Thats what I kept seeing online as well, I was hoping for something that did not require me taking her in to shop. :) I appreciate your advice, I will have it looked at.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Just to add to this one I agree you should take it to a exhaust shop to test for excessive back pressure.I would also see if the radiator cooling fan was running when it was running so hot. Those cars are well know for bad coolant temp sensors and they leak coolant into the coolant temp sensor connectors corroding the connectors terminals.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
C3DAVE1950
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2002 SATURN SL2
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 60,000 MILES
My 2002 Saturn SL2 Has an Engine Misfire (P0300). It also has High Idle (P0507) which is assume comes from the misfire. I am also getting a code P1624. Not sure what that means exactly.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
P0300 normally caused by vacuum leaks or bad fuel

Misfires can be caused by worn or fouled spark plugs, a weak spark (weak coil, bad spark plug wire), loss of compression, vacuum leaks, anything that causes an unusually lean fuel mixture (lean misfire), an EGR valve that is stuck open, dirty fuel injectors, low fuel pressure, or even bad fuel.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:06 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MINCE87
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
  • 2001 SATURN SL2
2001 Saturn SL2 Automatic 184000 miles

I need help on this car. I just bought it and everything seemed ok at first. It jerks front to back pretty roughly when you push on the gas and accelerate. If you're going at a steady speed it won't jerk. After you come to a stop or slow down it jerks! I know the car says I need to change oil soon.I'm wondering if that has any to do with it? Cuz there may not be enough fuel to circulate around. Please help.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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No a oil change won't fix your problem. Do you have any code's?
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MINCE87
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
No I don't. I guess I would have to have a diagnosis done on the car to get codes. The service engine light just started to pop up now. So it's getting worst.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Go to a auto part's store like auto zone and have them scan your car for code's let me know what the code number's are write them down. It could be something as simple as plug's and wire's. Do the spark plug wire's look like they have been replaced recently?
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MINCE87
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Ok I will do that. Is it pricey to get the codes? Anyway I will check the spark plug and let you know soon. It's late here to check now. But thanks.I hope and pray it's not a big problem.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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If you get the codes read at the auto parts store it's free.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MINCE87
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I checked auto zone they don't check for codes anymore. Havn't done it in 3 years. I have to go to a shop, I called one they said 25 dollars so ill probably have that done and get back to you. I looked at the spark plugs they don't look new. Look like its been there same time as the engine, but i'm not for sure. Is there another way to check? Thanks.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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You can tell by how worn down the center electrode is and the the gap of the plug. It's supposed to be.040" gap. The plug's get changed every 30,000 mile's if they look like the plug that came with the car then I would change the plug's.I would use a standard ngk plug like the one''s that came with it. Don't use platnuim plug's in that car they carbon foul. If the plug wire's look really old I would change hem too.I would also check and make sure the coil tower's that the wire's attach too aren't corroded if they are then they will have to be replaced or cleaned.I would also change the coolant temp sensor there only 10 make sure you get a brass tipped one the plastic tipped one's crack. Also inspect the connector if it's corroded it will have to be changed too.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MINCE87
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Ohh ok thank you. My check engine light mysteriously disappeared. I dont know why so I couldn't get the codes.. Anyway I had a mechanic come over. He said its probably transmission he said he may need to just clean it out and that hopefully will stop the jerking because it looks a lil dirty. If not, then my transmission may be bad. Im hoping not.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I wouldn't have the transmission flushed just change the fluid it should be changed every 30,000 mile's anyways but changing the fluid isn't going to fix the transmission I have never had a fluid change fix a transmission problem on that model saturn. So did the guy that said he think's it's the transmission come over and test drive the car?Also did you try to get the code's read?Just because the light's not on doesn't mean you don't have code's. Also when it's jerking if you turn the a/c on does the jerking get worse?Also what color is your transmission fluid?
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MINCE87
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Yes he took the car for a ride. When he came back he told me its transmission because my engine is good. He didnt try to check for codes he said he wouldnt get anything because the engine light was not on. I had the ac on earlier it did seem more frequent when I had it on. The tranny fluid is pinkish. But a lil dirty cuz it had a lil black on it.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
The guy is wrong even if the light is off you can still get code's they get stored in the computer's history. You need to get your code's read that could be a good lead of what's going on. If the jerking is worse with the a/c on then it's the engine. When you turn on the a/c it put's a load on the engine not the transmission. If anything it take's power being applied to the transmission away.I wouldn't put to much faith in that guy that came out if he said you can't get any code's unless the light is on because he is totally wrong on that one. Find out what code number's you have and let me know what the number's are.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)
Tiny
COURTNEYMORGAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 SATURN SL2
Engine Performance problem
2000 Saturn SL2 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Manual 167k miles

I will be driving at between 70 and 75 MPH and my car begins to act like its cutting out causing it to jerk. I usually let off the gas quickly or push down on it for it to stop jerking. My check engine light randomly comes on then later turns off.
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Friday, September 25th, 2020 AT 10:07 AM (Merged)

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