Help! Jerking 1996 SL1

My daughter has a 1996 SL1. Most of the time when she accelerates, the car
hesitates and jerks, like you're popping the clutch, but not quite that
vigorous. She has changed the fuel filter and PCV valve (no real effect).
The local Saturn dealer says there's nothing wrong with it.

Another question..... does the SL1 have a timing belt or a chain? I'm
trying to debug the problem over the phone (I'm in Alabama, she's in Texas).
She needs some help, she needs the car to do some major college commuting...

 

A bad or loose spark plug wire?

It has a timing chain.

 

Both the SOHC and the DOHC 1.9 liter inline 4 cylinder engines have timing
chains.

 

Thanks guys.... I was wondering about the timing belt, after all the
"hoop-la" about chains in the dealers dog and pony show presentation when I
bought mine....

Checked back with her, and she says that she put wires and plugs in the car
about 3 months ago... doesn't sound like that's the deal. I can have her
put them and then put them back on... maybe that will help... just in case
one is not seated well. I can't remember... does the 96 SL1 have an
old-style distributor / cap and rotor, or is it all electronic? Could be a
worn rotor contact if it is...

Any other ideas?????

Thanks guys!

 

No rotor or distributor cap. It's all electronic. Check the spark plug gap
(should be 0.040 not 0.060 inches as published) per my previous post.

Bob

 

If she replaces the plugs, some things to remember:

1) Plug is NGK BKR4E11
2) Make sure that they are removed when the engine is cold.
3) Make sure that they are gapped to 0.040"
4) Make sure that you put anti-sieze compound on the threads.
5) Make sure that you put dielectric grease on the insulators.
6) Make sure that you don't over torque them.

 

My daughter's 93 SC1 hdd the same symptons. I changed all the things
you did and STILL had the same result.... no improvement.

Then I smelled "a little gas" every so often. Checked the Fuel
Pressure Regulator (you can't see it on the TBI unless you look from
the driver's seat.)
It had a small leak... very small. The part was about $19.00 and took
20 minutes to put in. THAT totally solved the problem and the car and
gas-mileage has been GREAT for the last 14000 miles.

Worth a try with your SOHC Saturn with/TBI.