2000 Saturn SL2 engine light flashing

2000SATURNSL2GUY

MEMBER
2000 SATURN SL2
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
171,000 MILES

On my 2000 saturn sl2, my engine light was on for about two months. The comp. Read that the EGR flow sensor was bad. I just recently replaced the EGR valve and right after I put it in the engine light went off, but five min. Later it started flashing. The car still runs choppy and putters alot. I also replaced all the spark plugs and wires. It also makes noise from the exhaust. The car sat for about 6 months w/out driving it. Do you think I need a new catalytic converter? My cousin said that I probably have alot of old gas and carbon build up in my cat. What is your advise? Thank you

Friday, August 6th, 2010 AT 3:08 PM

3 Replies

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
5,121 POSTS

Your friend is on the right track, but, when you get a code for a restriction of the egr exhaust recirculation, that means not only does the egr needs cleaning or replacement, but inside the track at which the gases are introduced back into the combustion chamber needs cleaning, ( inside the intake manifold. Is filled with built up carbon deposits. Try that first before replacing the cat.
Joe

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Friday, August 6th, 2010 AT 3:14 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Let's find out what code's you have now. If your check engine light is flashing then you probably have a really bad miss fire. What kind of plug's did you put in?Also I would get a fuel drier and a fuel system cleaner and run that thru. But first I would run the car till it was out of gas then fill the tank with fresh gas and put the cleaner and fuel drier in. Have you ever changed the fuel filter they get changed every 100,000 but by then there almost completely plugged up. As far as the cat I wouldn't worry about that yet.

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Friday, August 6th, 2010 AT 3:18 PM

2000SATURNSL2GUY

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I appreciate you guys replying to my question. I finally resolved the problem 2 days ago. After already purchasing a new cat; that didn't even fit so I returned it anyway; I hollowed out my old cat and it still ran like garbage. So then I checked into the spark plugs again and that wasn't the problem. Then I took the spark plug wires off of each coil by the ignition module and wasn't gettin' a spark to two of the coils. So then I replaced one coil pack; still nothin. Then I replaced both coil packs and put a new ignition module in. BOOM, BINGO; now it's up and runnin like a champ like it used to. No more engine light flashin' or misfire or sputterin' runnin perfect. Again thank you for replying to my question.

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Saturday, August 21st, 2010 AT 6:51 PM