Thanks everyone. But about the spark plug cables.....

I have noticed that the wire on cylinder 4 has a defective connector to
the plug itself, sometimes it does pop off....I have used pliers to try
and close the mating connector so that it is tighter. But I still suspect
it...so I'll get new cables (Niehoff brand - a-ok? good brand? I don't
need high performance cables, this car is a 1.9 L SOHC afterall ...)

A ? though, Would a misfiring plug feel different to the driver though? I
feel the car lurching as if it lost power momentarily... and this happens
only as I am gearing up, on level ground and up/downhill (any load to the
wheels). I notice it more when gearing up from 1 to 2 to 3. Sometimes the
car drives well though. I would think if a plug was misfiring the
vibration would be more from the engine itself. Considering the trouble I
had previously with lower rpm stalls, maybe I did not fully clean all the
carbon from the EGR valve (carb clnr). I did the best I could with the EGR
though. Maybe I should replace it also?????

On Wed, 29 Sep 2004, ~^Johnny^~ wrote:

> >Yesterday I did remove the EGR valve and there was much carbon in the
> >valve and pipe. I used Carburator cleaner (sensor safe) to try & clean it.
> >The valve seems to move/close more freely thereafter. I also
> >replaced the PCV valve (FRAM PV295).
> >
> >However as I drove
> >to work this morning and the car still felt like it was stumbling when
> >accelerating. When gearing up from 1st to 2 & 3 my car hesitates, it feels
> >jumpy, or stumbles with a lurching/bucking. My sense is that it
> >seems like the clutch plate is slipping.
>
> >However this symptom does not occur
> >consistently. Sometimes it drives/feels very well. But when it happens it
> >always does under lower rpm (1600-2500), typically as I am gearing up and
> >accelerating with the gas pedal. I do not notice this under high rpm >3000
> >rpm or when in gear 4 or 5 (maybe because of momentum). As I stated
> >before, I tested the clutch, easing up on the pedal into 1st gear from a
> >stationary position either on level ground or uphill, and the clutch does
> >grab. Then if I press the gas pedal once in gear sometimes the jerking
> >occurs. I cannot say that it appears to be a problem with the fuel pump.
> >It primes fine when I turn the key to ACC, and the engine does not seem to
> >sputter (like it's running out of gas). I'd suspect the clutch slipping if
> >it was consistent. As Philip suggested I'll change the ignition wires to
> >see if that does the trick (however when I changed the spark plugs last
> >summer I did also measure the Resistance on the wires and they were
> >fine). I would rather not spend money on changing the clutch plate or
> >fuel pump if it is not necessary as these are very expensive.
> >
> >Thanks, Roger
>
> Sounds more like weak spark on one or more cyls.
> One or more coils are weak, or you have bad spark plug cables.
>
> Take the car into a dark (I mean pitch-black) garage, run the engine at fast
> idle, around 1800 RPM, and raise the hood. Look for any visible sparking,
> corona discharge...
>
> Ignition coils can also cause this symptom when they go bad.
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> >In article <Pine.LNX.4.44.0409241223250.7871-100000
> >, says...
> >> I have a 1995 Saturn SL1, SOHC, manual transaxle, with
> >> 145,000 Km (much on the hwy). I do change the engine oil frequently
> >> 5000Km, check fluids often, etc. In the past two
> >> weeks, when accelerating, my car hesitates, it feels jumpy, or
> >bucking/jerking.
> >>
> >> To resolve a recent stalling problem at deceleration and low rpm
> ><2000rpm,
> >> I did the following:
> >>
> >> - changed fuel filter
> >> - cleaned carbon out of throttle body with carb cleaner (was
> >> O2 sensor safe), and there was alot of carbon...
> >> - replaced vacuum hose between throttle body and crank case, old one was
> >> weak & almost ready to collapse. (fuel/PCV line hose 11/32" ID, 50 PSI)
> >> -used STP concentrated fuel injector cleaner in gas tank.
> >> -spark plugs were gapped & changed last summer.
> >> -replace air filter
> >>
> >> I don't think it is a slipping clutch, because the clutch feels fine and
> >> grabs when I ease up on the clutch pedal when starting in 1st gear.
> >> Although I feel this bucking in gears 1, 2, 3, not so much in
> >> 4/5....typically at lower rpm < 2500 rpm 1500 - 2200 rpm.
> >>
> >> It could be the ...
> >> -EGR valve
> >> -ignition wires
> >> -cap and rotor
> >> -MAF/MAP sensor (where are these located?)
> >>
> >> any suggestions?
> >>
> >> Thanks, Roger
> >
> > Very good post. You covered a lot to eliminate a bunch of questions we
> >here might of had to go through. I kinda suspect the EGR. It may not be
> >closing off, at least not very well do to carbon. Btw Saturns never used
> >cap and rotors.
> >
> >
> >On Fri, 24 Sep 2004, Philip Nasadowski wrote:
> >
> >> In article
> >> >,
> >> Roger Ehrlich - Alumni-2004 > wrote:
> >>
> >> > - changed fuel filter
> >>
> >> Good.
> >>
> >> > - cleaned carbon out of throttle body with carb cleaner (was
> >> > O2 sensor safe), and there was alot of carbon...
> >>
> >> Good. you might want to just remove and clean again to get EVERYTHING.
> >> It's 2 10mm bolts and unplugging the cables. Really easy, at least on
> >> the dual hamster models.
> >>
> >> > - replaced vacuum hose between throttle body and crank case, old one was
> >> > weak & almost ready to collapse. (fuel/PCV line hose 11/32" ID, 50 PSI)
> >>
> >> Weird.
> >>
> >> > -used STP concentrated fuel injector cleaner in gas tank.
> >>
> >> Maybe it did something. I don't trust those things though.
> >>
> >> > -spark plugs were gapped & changed last summer.
> >>
> >> Ooooo.
> >>
> >> > -replace air filter
> >>
> >> Good too.
> >>
> >> > It could be the ...
> >> > -EGR valve
> >>
> >> Maybe.
> >>
> >> > -ignition wires
> >>
> >> *ding!*
> >>
> >> Change those first. I bet the problem goes away. Mine was like this
> >> too, i changed the wires - ran a LOT better. It just feels like it's
> >> missing or hesitating every now and then, randomly? or, at low RPM, as
> >> the RPM increases, it suddenly 'kicks in'?
> >>
> >> > -cap and rotor
> >>
> >> None - it's a DIS system. A coil per plug.
> >>
> >> > -MAF/MAP sensor (where are these located?)
> >>
> >> No MAF. MAP is on the intake manifold. I'm not sure about the single
> >> hamster motors, but the two hamster ones have it to the left end of the
> >> manifold.
> >>
> >> > any suggestions?
> >>
> >> Replace the plug wires. Do it first. I bet it fixes it.
>
>

--
Roger Ehrlich
Computer Science
Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada
**
"It is important that students bring a certain ragamuffin, barefoot,
irreverence to their studies; they are not here to worship what is known,
but to question it."
Jacob Bronowski, The Ascent of Man

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