Ask the Car People.SM


All About Exhaust Systems

142 messages,  Last post on Mar 06, 2012 at 1:09 PM

You are in the Maintenance & Repair Forum.

What is this discussion about? Exhaust, Diesel, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Car Warranties, Coupe, Convertible, Hatchback, Truck, Sedan, Wagon, SUV, Van

Messages Page 12 of 15

#103 of 142 Re: Saturn Sl2 Catalytic Converter Issue? [mg45] by watkinst

Jan 26, 2010 (8:17 pm)

Replying to: mg45 (Jan 26, 2010 7:33 pm)
No engine lights - would mean essentially no codes to pull if NY inspection is only doing a non run - check the codes inspection. I'm not familiar with NY inspections.
 
Do you live in the city? I didn't know people owned cars there? HA HA Wife lived in NY for 7 yrs.

#104 of 142 Re: Saturn Sl2 Catalytic Converter Issue? [mg45] by srs_49

Jan 27, 2010 (3:48 am)

Replying to: mg45 (Jan 26, 2010 3:39 pm)
The cat O2 sensor (in back of the cat) has nothing to do with how the car runs. It's just there to monitor the efficiency of the catalytic converter. It's there to make sure the cat is doing its emissions thing.
 
Shifty/anyone else - Don't you think if he's running that much excessive fuel through the engine, it would fry the cat in short order, and so set the CEL? Cat's are not tolerant of fuel-rich exhausts, IIRC.

#105 of 142 Re: Saturn Sl2 Catalytic Converter Issue? [srs_49] by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Jan 27, 2010 (8:52 am)

Replying to: srs_49 (Jan 27, 2010 3:48 am)
Cats can take a certain amount of excessive fuel-burning--what it can't take is RAW fuel. Cats can ever tolerate lots of oil burning.
 
I'm quite puzzled by this problem. I would have suspected a bad ECM module except he passed the smog test.
 
Very often these types of difficult problems lack a critical detail that has not been reported (or perhaps observed) by mechanic or owner, and once that detail is known, we all slap our foreheads and say OF COURSE!

#106 of 142 Re: Saturn Sl2 Catalytic Converter Issue? [Mr_Shiftright] by srs_49

Jan 27, 2010 (9:49 am)

Replying to: MrShift@Edmunds (Jan 27, 2010 8:52 am)
Me too, puzzled that is.
 
I mean, if the engine was really running that rich, and the front O2 sensor was working correctly, wouldn't the ECU try to lean things out to try and keep the air/fuel ratio at the stochiometric point (what's that 14:1?)? Then if it couldn't do that, throw a code?

#107 of 142 Re: Saturn Sl2 Catalytic Converter Issue? [Mr_Shiftright] by mg45

Jan 27, 2010 (10:22 am)

Replying to: MrShift@Edmunds (Jan 27, 2010 8:52 am)
How do they do the smog test? The car was inspected before i drove it off the lot on April 6th 2009 and it apparently passed. Unless the dealer forced the pass, because after all they did sell it to me with a bad tranny. I'm getting it inspected at the end of march and I'm thinking it will pass if they just do the inspection by scanning for codes, which i don't have. I am really hoping it fails, then they have to find out and tell me whats wrong with it.

#108 of 142 Re: Saturn Sl2 Catalytic Converter Issue? [mg45] by obyone

Jan 27, 2010 (10:48 am)

Replying to: mg45 (Jan 27, 2010 10:22 am)
I am really hoping it fails, then they have to find out and tell me whats wrong with it.
 
You should get an "A" for creativity as I've never heard of that one before...

#109 of 142 Re: Saturn Sl2 Catalytic Converter Issue? [obyone] by mg45

Jan 27, 2010 (11:16 am)

Replying to: obyone (Jan 27, 2010 10:48 am)
My 2007 camry failed when i brought it to the dealer for inspection and they called me saying what needed to be done to get it to pass. it cost 200 bucks, something with emissions, but it then passed. I don't know if the same goes for the saturn, but i did buy it from that same dealer.
 
I just was looking under the hood, searching for any fuel and or vacuum leaks when i noticed this weird noise coming from the manifold when i rev it. Heres the video:
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoBqgFVNhEQ

#110 of 142 Re: Saturn Sl2 Catalytic Converter Issue? [mg45] by kiawah

Jan 27, 2010 (11:38 am)

Replying to: mg45 (Jan 27, 2010 11:16 am)
Personally, I don't like that sound, or the whining. That would bug me until I either concluded it wasn't a problem, or found what the problem was.
 
Try popping the accessory belt off, and then start the vehicle and run it briefly to see if the whining stops (then proving it's external to the engine), or continues to whine. I don't know the saturn specifically, but look on the tensioner pulley assembly for either a wrench or pry bar attachment point. Take the tension off the belt, slide the belt off, then slowly release the tensioner to it's rest position. Take note of how the belt routes, so you can put it back the same way.
 
If the whining stops with the belt off, turn the engine off, and with your hand slowly turn/wiggle each accessory to see if you can feel which bearing is a problem.

#111 of 142 Re: Saturn Sl2 Catalytic Converter Issue? [kiawah] by mg45

Jan 27, 2010 (7:09 pm)

Replying to: kiawah (Jan 27, 2010 11:38 am)
Ok, i figured out the noise was coming from the pcv valve. It just the little ball in the valve bouncing around. As for the gas mileage issue i think i made have cracked the code.
 
As I listed I recently replaced the fuel filter. I bought one from auto zone for 35 bucks. The fuel regulator for the 98-02 s- series is located in the fuel filter. The 35 buck one is JUST the filter, no regulator. Basically the cars running with no fuel regulator. The previous owner must have done the same thing and put in a filter with no regulator, which is why I've been getting the bad gas mileage since i bought the car. That would also explain the black soot on the exhaust pipe.
 
I have no idea how the car is running practically perfect with no regulator, but the map sensor must be making up for it enough not to throw a code. I'm gonna order the OEM 92 dollar regulator/filter from RockAuto.com and see what happens.

Messages Page 12 of 15

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement