1999 Saturn SL2

Tiny
CLANCY52
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 SATURN SL2
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 95,000 MILES
Bad hesitation when accelerating. I just replaced the spark plugs and spark plug wires. The car runs great and idols smoothly but whenever I accelerate from a dead stop it hesitates then accelerates smoothly. When I am cruising down the road it is great unless I give it a little gas then it hiccups then accelerates smoothly again. I tripled checked all the wires and plugs, everything is as it should be. Help!
Sunday, February 28th, 2010 AT 8:51 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
See if there are any codes let me know what the numbers are if u have any. It could be a few things but let's start with the codes first.
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Sunday, February 28th, 2010 AT 9:13 PM
Tiny
CLANCY52
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
No codes. Had one a few days ago "02 sensor slow to respond" but it went away. No light or code since I put plugs and wires in.
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Sunday, February 28th, 2010 AT 9:20 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Theres a coolant temp sensor screwed into ur head below where ur upper hose goes unplug that by squeezing it. Look at the coonector if its corroded u will need to replace or clean it. Its real common for the sensors to crack and leak into connectors. The sensor controls how much fuel ur engine gets the cooling fan and even temp gauge. And will cause ur engine to flood run lean surge cut out over heat alot of differnt things. There under 20 if u replace it make sure u get a brass tipped one not a plastic tipped one they crack. Let me know what u find. Thats where I would start. If u come up with nothing there then I would check ur fuel pressure next. As far as ur p0133 u will need to replace ur front o2 sensor in long wrong pretty common for that code. Let me know what u find.
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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 11:30 AM
Tiny
CLANCY52
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Thanks! I will try that tonight. I think you may be on to something though. When I started the car this morning the exhaust smelled like gasoline and I was thinking "it's running too rich".
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Monday, March 1st, 2010 AT 3:39 PM
Tiny
CLANCY52
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Tried it. Didn't work.
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 2:33 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So did u replace the coolant temp sensor or just check it?I would also be checking ur fuel pressure. Ur almost due for a fuel filter and they have a fuel pressure regulator built in them they get replaced every 100,000 miles I have the regulators in them go bad and cause the car to run bad. There expensive but I got the one for my 99 at autozone for 30. Check ur fuel pressure and let me know what u find.
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 2:51 PM
Tiny
CLANCY52
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
OK, I figured it out. I am officially a dummy. I reversed 4 and 1 onthe coil, work fine. Thanks for your help, IOU1.
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Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 AT 11:25 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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It's ok it happens to the best of us glad u figured it out.
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Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 AT 12:11 AM

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