2004 Saturn Vue Check engine light, NO CODES!

DROSSFILE

MEMBER
2004 SATURN VUE
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
65,000 MILES

I had AutoZone scan the computer, and they said it showed no codes. Here's what's happening: whenever I put fuel in it, immediately upon starting, the car seems to be getting the wrong air/fuel mixture because it doesn't want to keep running (low rpms and sometimes stalls) and you have to play with the gas pedal to get it running. After that, it seems fine until you fuel up again. Recently, however, it's begun to exhibit similar fuel problems while on the road for awhile. We contacted our mechanic (a trustworthy, knowledgable guy), and he said he has no idea what it could be, and hates to charge us to scan it and find the same thing AutoZone did. If I can't get an answer here, I guess it has to go to the dealership where I'm sure it'll cost me my life savings to get it fixed. : (
Any ideas? Thanks.

6 Replies

ECHOECHO

MEMBER
2 POSTS

We have the same car and same problem. Did you ever figure it out? Thanks

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 AT 12:53 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

So you have a 2004 saturn vue with a 4cyl engine doing the exact same thing?The check engine light is on and you scanned it and no codes are in the computer?

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 AT 1:43 AM

ECHOECHO

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Yes we have the exact problem. When I am driving it feels like it is running out of gas. The tank was low so I went and filled it up. Now it continues to feel like it is going to stall. When I stop I have to put my left foot on the break, the car in neutral and rev the RMP's to keep it from stalling out or almost stalling out. Once I get up to about 40mph it runs fine but when I have to slow down or stop the problem starts. As the car accelerates it feels like it is putt putting if you know what I mean. It kind of sputters and you just think it is not going to get faster but it does slowly. We hooked up a code reader and there is no code but our check engine light is on. When the problem is occuring the check engine light blinks. When I get to 40 mph the light stays on but doesn't blink.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

-1

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 AT 2:04 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

If the check engine light is blinking that means you have a really bad missfire that can damage the cat. Should be some missfire codes set for that. To me it sounds like you have a bad coil pack. You have two coils within the coil cassette sounds like one of them is failing. Check spark on all four cylinders you should have a nice blue spark not a orange or yellow weak spark.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012 AT 3:35 AM

BKBAR

MEMBER
1 POST

I have a 2005 vue doing the same thing sputtering and unsteady idle, not today it is reving up. My check engine light came on also, but auto zone said no codes! Any idea what this could be. My car is a 4 cylinder, with 138,000 miles.