I'm new to the world of Saturns, and working a few bugs out of my Daughter's first car...a 2001 SL-1; 1.9 liter engine, 135,000km.

1- Engine fan is on at all times, even with A/C turned off. Coolant Temp guage works fine, new coolant temp switch has been installed. Could it be the relay? or is there a simpler possibility?

2- The previous owner cut the catalytic converter out, why I don't know. The Serviced Engine Light of course is on, and apparently the code is P0037B, indicating the #2 Oxygen Sensor. I've heard that installing a "non-fouler" adapter on the #2 Oxygen Sensor may help fool the system so the light does not come on. Any experience or advice in this area?

Many thanks for any advice!
Daryl

 

Maybe the previous owner was having cooling problems and wired the fan to run whenever the engine was running. It would be best if you reinstalled the converter and o2 sensor.

 

Thanks for that, however I've pulled the fuse for the fan for now, not too warm out yet so no overtemp issues. I agree in principle with reinstalling the cat, however that won't happen right away, there is a pipe welded in place and we're not going to spend the $300 bucks or so for a new cat at this time. The O2 sensor is in place, I am wondering if anyone has any experience using the "non-fouler" as per my original post.

Thanks

 

That's an interesting idea and really, the only way you'll find out it to try it. They're cheap enough. I used to work for Autozone, years ago, and one day had a guy come in complaining that his Chevy truck was running very rough. I went out to look at it with him and he had non foulers on ever spark plug! When I asked him why, he said it was burning oil and needed rings, so he thought they would help. I told him to remove them, and it would run better, but he really needed to overhaul the engine. Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing!

 

you need the cooling fan to keep from overheating in stopped traffic. If you want to leave the fuse out so be it, but keep it handy and be prepared to pull over if you get into a bad traffic jam.

Just trying to help.

Can't tell where you are from profile, but I assume there are no smog tests in your state. I live in Jersey, so no smog tampering here /no knowledge of the trick circuitry. All I think I know is that it sends a repeating pattern of signals "expected" from what would be the rear 02 sensor so that the PCM thinks that the cat is doing its job....thus no SES light

 

Thanks Derf, I'm from Alberta, no smog tests here. I'm aware of the need for the fan, fuse is kept in spare slot in holder for the need, hopefully it's fixed by then. It's not needed here just yet. Maybe I'll try to get a relay from the wrecker to try out.

Nice P-51 pic Rubehayseed. Once I get it installed, I'll advise if the non-fouler on the O2 Sensor helps.

 

I live now and have for the last 30 years where yearly smog tests are required. What is a non-fouler and why does burning oil require one.
and as to the catalytic converer?
I put them on for around a c note. I suppose some people might gouge a person for 300 to install them. But here I use a generic hi-flow cat, available pretty much anywhere and like I said about $130 installed seems to be about right. And you can spend more than that trying to doctor a system to run with out one.
Even street racer motors I build will pass smog.

 

Ruby's responce indicates it is a spacer that backs the spark plug out of the cumbustion chamber a bit to keep a spark plug from fouling when you have a heavy oil burner. I have seen them in the past and at best the are a crutch for getting things to run with out fouling spark plugs. They sort of do that, of course they also sort of dont work as spark plugs very well then either so I can see where an engine would run crappy with them installed.
But using one on an O2 sensor and every one of those I have seen are before the catalytic converter. I see no reason why they would have a change in reading. If they are before the catalytic converter, nothing has changed if the cat is missing.
Nor does it make sense to me why backing out the sensor would be beneficial to anything.
But what do I know anyway. I make them run AND pass smog.

 

Sorry I was talking about one of those thingies you put IN PLACE OF the 02 sensor when you're trying to trick the pcm to think there's a cat in place when there isn't. Sorry for the misdirect.

I can't see a non-fouler on the back O2 sensor doing anything -- especially in your case with no cat there. The sensor's surface area is too large for it to make a difference and with no cat in place the 02 level sensed will be way too low for the spacer to make a difference.

My opinion anyway

 

Hey Uncle John and Derf,
Thanks for the responses, and please don't take any offense to my comments, I too am of a technical background, however not so much on cars, but technology and mechanical principles are the same. I don't fully understand how the O2 sensors work, however do understand a bit of how the cats work. The info I got regarding the use of the non-fouler on the "after cat" O2 sensor was that by moving it a bit out of the exhaust stream flow, it would send a bit different signal to the computer, thus making it seem like there was a difference in the exhaust (which there isn't with no cat installed).

I do prefer to have systems work as they are supposed to, and likely will end up installing a new cat at some point, however also "tinker" a bit with ideas from time to time. Regardless, when I get time to install this adapter, I'll do so and report any findings to the forum, if for nothing else than general interest.