hesitation on acceleration

[sinkit]

My Saturn is starting to hesitate mostly on acceleration. I not mechanically inclined and my husband is away. Is there a simple solution or do I take it to a shop.

 

[Bob Shuman]

Sinkit,

Basic information would increase the likelihood of a useful or informative response. Year, make, model, mileage, maintenance history, and a better description of "hesitate, as well as any other symptoms would be starters before venturing an "educated" guess.

Bob

 

[The Real Tom]

My Saturn is starting to hesitate mostly on acceleration. I not mechanically inclined and my husband is away. Is there a simple solution or do I take it to a shop.

Please give more information make/model/year/mileage. Also, are there any other symptoms(shaking, noises, etc). Also do you have unnecessary loads in the car(truck full of spare tires, etc).

Just a quick observation with my saturn/SL2/97/64k it is very peppy with only the driver. Add a passenger, slower. My wifey and I add up to some of my friends' individual weights,I can't imagine filing the car with them and see the car strain. Geez......

later,

tom @ www.WorkAtHomePlans.com

 

[Box134]

And, how long will your husband be away?

 

[Roy]

Sounds like the same problem my girlfriend, a friend and I all had with our Saturns (2X 98 SL1 and a 2000 SL1). The next time you fill up get put some Injector cleaner in with the full tank of gas. Then start buying premium gas (assuming you don't already, if you do maybe you should switch stations). It makes about $2.50 difference in the price of a tank and this problem should go away. You may have to g through a couple of tanks to get it cleaned up. Like I said it worked for all three of us. Mine started acting up three months after I got it used I switched to premium and it's been 2 and a half years with the hesitation not showing up again. There may be something else wrong but this is a fairly inexpensive thing to try first.

 

[Napalm Heart]

My Saturn is starting to hesitate mostly on acceleration. I not mechanically inclined and my husband is away. Is there a simple solution or do I take it to a shop.

With a name like sinkit and your stating that your husband is away I have to ask, where are you? ;+)>

 

[Kevin M. Keller]

Sounds like the same problem my girlfriend, a friend and I all had with our Saturns (2X 98 SL1 and a 2000 SL1). The next time you fill up get put some Injector cleaner in with the full tank of gas.

good advice.

Then start

buying premium gas

waste of money

(assuming you don't already, if you do maybe you

should switch stations).

possibly good idea

unless you've done some significant internal engine work (shaved head, etc.), going to "premium" (higher octane) fuel is a total waste of money. If you've recently filled up with gas from a station you don't normally use, don't go back there.

I usually put in a bottle of STP fuel system cleaner every other oil change. And if you have a '96, be sure to clean your throttle body once a year.

 

[Roy]

My girlfriend thought it was a waste of money too so she started using regular again and within two months her car was hesitating again. Went through the process again filling up with premium and her car has been working fine ever since. Curious why you say it is a waste of money.

 

[Lane (2)]

Curious why you say it is a waste of money.

Mainly because your owner's manual states that you should run the lower octane, as the engine is optimized for it. In addition, premium higher-octane fuel will only provide a performance or power benefit in a car whose computer is able to advance the timing to utilize it. S-Series Saturns do not have this ability.

I've read somewhere that continual high-octane use may contribute to a higher rate of carbon build-up in the combustion chambers and on the valves. And by using it in a car that didn't need high octane fuel in the first place, eventually does make the car need it in order to run properly (due to that carbon build-up caused by it). I'm not sure how true this is. If anyone feels curious and finds any links to information on the subject, please post them here.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

 

[Kevin M. Keller]

Mainly because your owner's manual states that you should run the lower octane, as the engine is optimized for it.

What he said. Sorry - I've been busy recovering from the SPC's 1st race of the year with our ITA '94 SC2, and getting my car ready for a lapping day this weekend.