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Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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comics10
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Mar 2, 2012, 5:23 PM
Post #1 of 9
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Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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INFO:
Year: 2001
Make: Saturn
Model: SL
Engine size: 1.9 (I think)
Mileage: ~170,000 miles
I have had this car for a little over a year and these issues appear to be getting slightly worse, or perhaps I noticed them more. When I am accelerating, the car is slow to accelerate until I push the pedal down far enough and then the engine will rev up to about 3200 rpm but stay in the same gear for a few minutes while maintaining that rpm. Eventually it will switch to a higher gear but it takes longer than it should. I've noticed that if I slightly release the gas, sometimes it will help it to switch gears.
The other issue is that sometimes when I am in park, the engine will idle up very high, almost as if I have my foot on the gas. It gets up to about 1000-1500 rpm's at this point. This doesn't happen too often but I'd still like to know if its a major issue.
I am on a tight budget but I would like the car to last as long as possible so if there are some minor repairs I can make that would be great. However, it seems as if the transmission is going. To be honest I don't really know anything about transmissions so I'm not sure if its possible to tune one up or something? It just sounds like its a little out of whack, which is causing that lag in switching gears. Anyway, any help you guys can give me would be really appreciated. Thank you!
EDIT: One other thing I've noticed recently is the steering wheel shaking when I go over around 55 mph. I figured this is something to do with the alignment or I have to have the tires rotated or something. I recently had an alignment done about a month ago though so I'm not sure.
(This post was edited by comics10 on Mar 2, 2012, 5:25 PM)
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nickwarner
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/ Moderator
Mar 2, 2012, 5:36 PM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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Get the codes pulled and post them here for us to see. We need the exact code numbers, not the generic description. Many parts stores will read them for free. Have you checked your transmission fluid level? If so, where was it at and is the fluid dark or have a burnt smell to it? You may very well have a trans going out but it would be good to get the other info to narrow down your problem. Your wheel shake may be in the tires, either from being out of balance or worn out bad. Rotate them back to front and see if the shaking changes. If it does, you have junk tires. If it doesn't you've gotten a tire rotation off your maintenance list and have ruled the tires out as a cause of the vibration.
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comics10
Novice
Mar 2, 2012, 5:47 PM
Post #3 of 9
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Re: Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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Get the codes pulled and post them here for us to see. We need the exact code numbers, not the generic description. Many parts stores will read them for free. Have you checked your transmission fluid level? If so, where was it at and is the fluid dark or have a burnt smell to it? You may very well have a trans going out but it would be good to get the other info to narrow down your problem. Your wheel shake may be in the tires, either from being out of balance or worn out bad. Rotate them back to front and see if the shaking changes. If it does, you have junk tires. If it doesn't you've gotten a tire rotation off your maintenance list and have ruled the tires out as a cause of the vibration.
Thank you so much for your quick reply. I'll get the codes this weekend. Not sure about the trans fluid, I'll check it tomorrow. I recently had the back tires replaced (also about a month ago) and the front ones look almost brand new. I'm due for an oil change in another 1,000 miles or so, so I'll just get them rotated then. I'm really trying hard not to sound like an idiot but could low or dirty trans fluid cause this kind of problem?
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nickwarner
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Mar 2, 2012, 5:58 PM
Post #4 of 9
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Re: Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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Low trans fluid would cause this, and if left unfixed would burn up the trans. When at operating temp and with the engine running, trans in park on a level surface full out the dipstick. Wipe it clean, insert and pull up. Look at the lines and see where your fluid level is at. Your owners manual will probably show you a picture of where this is at if you aren't familiar. If the fluid is very dark, smells burnt and such you most likely have a bad trans. At your mileage level it happens. The stuff that darkens the fluid is clutch lining from the clutch packs that make the car move. They so get pieces suspended in the oil from normal wear and if the fluid isn't changed at the proper intervals or the car is driven unusually hard or in high temps without proper cooling it not only destroys the wear protection properties of the fluid it accelerates the wear of the clutches and other moving parts. Once they wear too far the only fix is an overhaul.
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comics10
Novice
Mar 3, 2012, 10:19 AM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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So I got the codes checked:
P0301 - Cylinder misfire
P0341 - Cam sensor condition
P0410 - Secondary air injection system fault
I checked the trans fluid a few times as well but I couldn't really make too much sense of it. There was definitely some on the dipstick but I couldn't tell how much it was coated because it is much lighter than how the oil looks on the oil dipstick. There doesn't seem to have been any mention of the transmission in the codes however. Today the car seems to be particularly tricky, shifting out of first gear is getting worse, with the engine really revving up or staying revved and not switching for an extended period of time.
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comics10
Novice
Mar 3, 2012, 1:41 PM
Post #6 of 9
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Re: Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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I'm really considering taking it in. I was surprised I couldn't see a lot of fluid on the trans dipstick but I would figure there would be an error code if it was low, no?
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nickwarner
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Mar 3, 2012, 3:26 PM
Post #7 of 9
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Re: Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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It won't pull a code for being low on transmission fluid. Its one of those things they expect the driver to maintain. P0301 is a cylinder #1 miss. The secondary air injection is emissions related equipment, and the cam sensor issue would possibly be related to your #1 miss. But your trans isn't going to do this because of those codes. I'd take it in and get this looked at by a pro.
(This post was edited by nickwarner on Mar 3, 2012, 3:27 PM)
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comics10
Novice
Mar 3, 2012, 4:25 PM
Post #8 of 9
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Re: Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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I put some transmission fluid in and it seems to be shifting gears easier but now it is making a whining noise whenever I accelerate which gets louder as I accelerate.
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nickwarner
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Mar 3, 2012, 5:07 PM
Post #9 of 9
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Re: Saturn SL 2001 changing gear issues, engine idle issues
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If you can't make sense of the marks on the dipstick, how do you know when to stop adding fluid? Driving it overfilled will do damage as much as underfilled will. You must have the right amount in it. I'd get it to a shop right away. If its low the leak needs to be found and repaired.
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