Rpm On Fritz

My '97 sl1 has got a problem. I feel this problem should be easy to solve and repair. Only thing is, I dont know anything on saturn repair. Listen to this and let me know what your thoughts are. PLEASE

It happens most frequently when I am pulling up to a red-light. It begins when I push the clutch, as soon as the idle drops to about 1-2, it does something funky(miss?). It usually only lasts just a second, if it continues I tap the gas and raise RPM above 2.5. That fixes it. I dont have any problems with it on the freeway(very minor missing).

MY IDLE PROBLEM= The sound- is almost a gasp(cant hear very much from inside the car). The feel- it actually wiggles the whole car like a motor mount is gone(engine rocks back and forth). No smell and I cant see anything diff. My SES light is on and has been for a couple months. My MPG has seemed to go down a lil bit recently too. I am going to take it in for a much needed tune-up after holidays, just curious what little things(simple, cheap) I could try of until then. ANYBODY

i cant really understand your description but it sounds like it needs a tune up(major) which is like plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, throttle body cleaning, etc. now for a cheap thing to replace is the cts, coolant temperature sensor. those little things can cause a wide variety of problems and are like $15 from the dealer. dont buy it anywhere else. i got mine from napa but i have an ac delco one in reserve. if i understood better i could probably help more, but get that full tune(dont forget injectors!) and try the cts.

Check the plugs. If you replace go with NGK v-power or ac delco. For the idle, clean the throttle body and IAC valve. That means spending some cash on a 20 dollar tool kit at wal-mart and some carb cleaner. make sure your ects isn't the nylon one that was stock. If not, replace the ects with a brass tipped one from www.saturnparts.net. If there is an autozone in your area, get the codes read there (it's free) and post them. small chance you may need a new 02 sensor.

i cant really understand your description but it sounds like it needs a tune up(major) which is like plugs, wires, fuel filter, air filter, throttle body cleaning, etc. now for a cheap thing to replace is the cts, coolant temperature sensor. those little things can cause a wide variety of problems and are like $15 from the dealer. dont buy it anywhere else. i got mine from napa but i have an ac delco one in reserve. if i understood better i could probably help more, but get that full tune(dont forget injectors!) and try the cts.


thanx. sorry bout shotty description, its the best i can come up with.

Check the plugs. If you replace go with NGK v-power or ac delco. For the idle, clean the throttle body and IAC valve. That means spending some cash on a 20 dollar tool kit at wal-mart and some carb cleaner. make sure your ects isn't the nylon one that was stock. If not, replace the ects with a brass tipped one from www.saturnparts.net. If there is an autozone in your area, get the codes read there (it's free) and post them. small chance you may need a new 02 sensor.

will do, What & where is the IAC? ECTS?no idea what that is either. thanx for the tip(never knew that about A.Z.) I was pretty sure about the 02 sensor.

appreciate the help

will do, What & where is the IAC? ECTS?no idea what that is either. thanx for the tip(never knew that about A.Z.) I was pretty sure about the 02 sensor.

appreciate the help
this is a thread on how to replace the ECTS:
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24003&highlight=cleaning+throttle+body
the ects will cause idling and gas mileage problems down the road (if it hasn't already) if it is the stock one.
for the throttle body and IAC, i'm having a hard time finding good links that have thorough instructions on how to do this. Since you've never worked on saturns before and i haven't cleaned these myself (shop did it for me) I would get a chilton's manual for your particular car on ebay. I don't believe you HAVE to remove the IAC to clean it nor the throttle body but it's best to remove them as it will be easier. You may need to get a new gasket for the throttle body. Sorry i couldn't help much on how to do this but I would bet my pink slip that cleaning these will help with idle problems. For the autozone, hopefully they will read them for free. a few won't but most do cuz they hope that you will buy the part that you need from them (marketing strategy). If it is the 02 sensor causing the SES to come on, you CAN get a replacement one from autozone since it's much cheaper than the OEM part, but i wouldn't. I've heard good AND bad stories on the universal one.