2001 Saturn SC1 Car has high RPMs when put in park and high

AMANDA MCGUIRE

MEMBER
2001 SATURN SC1
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
78,500 MILES

I have a 2001 SC1 and it has a problem we can't seem to fix. My car's rpms jump up a little while driving. Also, they jump up high when put into park and at stop lights or signs. It doesn't happen all the time, but when it does it takes forever to come down.I took it to the mechanic. They replaced all of the vacuum lines and checked for other leaks. They said that they could still hear a little air, but didn't know where it was coming from. They also changed the temperature sensor. That seemed to solve the high rpms for one week, but now its doing it again. Also, when I use the front defroster, it seems to aggravate the rpms and they dance up and down and the it goes back to the high rpms when idling.I'm going back to the mechanic again tomorrow and I am at my wits end. Could I be cracking sensors due to a defroster issue?I am frustrated and I have been dealing with this for over a year.I just spent over $400 last week.I can't keep doing that!

1 Reply

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

First of all thank u for ur donation. Sounds like u have a vaccuum leak possibley have them check around the intake manifold where the gasket meets the head around the number 1 and 2 intake tube where the power steering pump area is. It's common for 2000-2002 sl1 saturns to leak there the gasket was put on all wrinkled up when they put the engines together. They can use carb spray while the car is idling and spray it around that area if it stumbles or dies or the rpms go up the gasket is leaking and needs a new gasket. Also while it idles high have them tap on the idle air control valve if the rpms drop u have a bad or carboned up idle air control valve. Let me know what u find.