Neuter '02 smog pump

My '02 SL has something that doesn't seem to exist on my '95 & '98 SL.
See picture --> http://wilfy.weehost.com/Icons/18.jpg

It's the black round object between the washer fluid resevoir & the
bulkhead.

It is connected to the hose in front of it leading into some type of
solenoid valve atop the A/C compressor and into the exahust header.

I suspect it is a smog pump. Can anyone confirm? If so, can it be
disabled by simply disconnecting the electrical wires on it and the
solenoid valve? Will this affect the engine computer?

If you're wondering why I want to disconnect it: sometimes I hear a
whirring noise coming from this unit and and the idle RPM drops to 500
followed by lots of engine shaking and the RPM jumps back to 1200.
During summer when the A/C is on, this is especially
annoying/embarrassing as engine nearly stalls. Quality 1 year old
Saturn automobile idles rougher than a rust bucket 23 year old Corolla
next to it. This problem never existed on the '95 & '98. Talked to
dealer and was told that the idle is controlled by computer so there's
nothing he can do.

How can Saturn take a perfectly good '98 SL design and make it worse??

 

Yes, that is an electric air injection pump, which is commanded on in
certain conditions with accompanying noise (the list of enable criteria
looks rather complicated). The computer will complain eventually if you
disconnect it (Check Engine light on, trouble code P0410 will set). The ECM
expects to see the oxygen sensor show a lean condition with the AIR system
operating, and if it doesn't, it will set the code.

Some drop in idle speed will be normal when it kicks in because of the high
current draw, but I don't know if what you describe should be happening,
that might signal some problem with the idle air control valve, not
responding fast enough or something. You'd likely have to compare to a
similar vehicle to see if that's normal on that model.

I'm guessing the AIR system is something they had to put on to get that
engine to meet newer, stricter emissions standards. Probably one of the
reasons Saturn isn't using that engine anymore..

 

Probbably. It's not like this stuff's an afterthought anymore.

I bet there's something wrong.

Gee, that's so 1970's. They haven't had air pump on cars in years, at
least I've not seen any. IIRC, some 80's GM cars didsn't have EGR
either.

In any case, wouldn't this be covered under the emisions warrenty
anyway? Besides, the AIR system (not to mention EVAP) are great things
- big emissions cuts with no power/economy loss...

 

I don't think there's many other GM cars that have used AIR systems at all
recently, just the Saturns (though the Corvette is another one that comes to
mind as having it). The L-series cars with the Ecotec do have them, but only
for cold-start use, it doesn't kick in afterwards like it apparently does on
the original poster's model.

The new Ecotec engine does not need any EGR either..