I would really like some advice on how to go about fixing my saturn. First off it is the 1.9 mpfi with a man. trans. The problem is the car hesitates badly when driving. It runs fine at idle but even just sitiing still if i give it just a little gas it will rev up and then bog down and almost stall. No check enigne light. I would just like some advice on what to look at. I already cleaned the throttle body with no change. Thanks for the help.

1) Replace Engine Coolant Temp Sensor (ECTS) - if it is the original one in there, it has certainly failed. Replace with brass-tipped sensor and OEM saturn connector (internal corrosion).

If it was replaced before 97-98 it is likely still the old plastic-tipped design and again is likely to have failed

2) Ever clean / replace EGR valve?

EGR pintle gets coated with carbon deposits from all the oil burning and does not move freely.

Service or replace EGR and ports it connects to.

Derf

Just because you don't have a check engine light on, you can still have codes set. Get a scanner to read them - or with OBD1 use the "paper clip" method to find out if you have any codes. IF you have a scan tool, post the sensor data so we can see what is out of range to help narrow it down.


Eric

Derf, you were right on the EGR valve. I just popped off the vacume line to the EGR and it runsa lot better. I took off the EGR and checked it. It moved freely and I did not find anything to tell me that it was malfunctioning but I am going to get a new one and give it a shot. Thanks for the replies, I do appreciate them.

I don't know if the control system for the EGR is the same, but my '93 sohc with throttle body injection and automatic was almost undriveable for the same reason. The EGR itself was fine but the EGR solenoid was bad. I did the same trick, plugged the vacuum line to correct driveability, but the knock counts for highway cruise increased and mileage dropped. Replaced the solenoid, from Rock Auto, and all was well. Didn't show a code either.

The EGR Solenoid is another reason that you get a QUAD DRIVER fail code - it goes bad - and its a shared circuit for the PCM - its a VERY common problem in that vintage.


Eric