Mechanic In The House.. Car Problems.. High RPMs!

[aidan80 9]

I know this isn’t the correct forum or message board to post in but, I’ve not found anything else yet..

I should have known so much good luck recently with getting my green card approved without much of a problem.. getting a job the same week, just a few miles down the road... and now the car isn’t in such good shape, which is critical for the wife to get to work in..

We have a 1998 Saturn (Manual) SL.. it has about 125k or so miles on it if I remember correctly. The car hasn’t been worked on in over a year and the oil hasn’t been changed in a while although fresh oil has been added a few times.

The problem is as follows..

* High RPMs sometimes (not always, just started to do this) in natural, when changing gear but never where we’re at speed?

* Heavy shaking just after startup, but that is quite rare.

* Shaking, rattling noise from the front left, right of the car when and driving.

* Very, very sensitive clutch..

* Stiff gears, not as smooth as they were

* Service Engine Light comes on at times

Any suggestions on the problems or on a good auto related active message board would be very much appericated.

Thanks in advance!

Edited November 25, 2006 by aidan80

[PlatyPius 5]

Sell it.

Ok, real answer now.

high RPM in neutral: vacuum leak, probably intake manifold. Idle Air control motor, possible defective TPS.

stiff gears/sensitive clutch: clutch is going out. (Either clutch itself or the hydraulic master cylinder or slave cylinder.)

Check Engine Light: O2 sensor, TPS sensor, EGR valve....anything that would affect emissions.

Rattle: No clue. front left right? huh?

Saturns are famous for having bad timing chains. Which rattle when they wear out.

In other words....it's junk. I'd get rid of it.

[Girona40 1]

Amongst our vehicles, my husband uses a Saturn to commute back and forth to work - some 2 hours each way. It too has high miles on it, but he ensures that the oil is changed every 5000 miles and it is serviced regularly. I think you need to give your car some TLC if you expect it to last much longer.

Dirty oil can cause a multitude of problems, dirty air filter, low fluid levels, etc. If you can't afford to get it serviced by a local garage, where they can check the entire vehicle over, at least take it to Jiffy Lube, or somewhere similar, where they will check all your fluids, filters, etc.

www.carforums.net is a good site, worth taking a look at.

[aidan80 9]

Sell it.

Ok, real answer now.

high RPM in neutral: vacuum leak, probably intake manifold. Idle Air control motor, possible defective TPS.

stiff gears/sensitive clutch: clutch is going out. (Either clutch itself or the hydraulic master cylinder or slave cylinder.)

Check Engine Light: O2 sensor, TPS sensor, EGR valve....anything that would affect emissions.

Rattle: No clue. front left right? huh?

Saturns are famous for having bad timing chains. Which rattle when they wear out.

In other words....it's junk. I'd get rid of it.

Thanks for the response but we can’t sell it (who would buy it? ), it’s the only car we’ve got! We’ve no funds for a new one and we certainly want to avoid car payments as much as possible otherwise we’ll never be out of this country.

I’m not the main driver my wife is and I appear to be incorrect in a few areas:

• The car has 105k miles on it not 125k.

• RPM’s are high only when using the clutch.. e.g. changing gears, startup.. taking off

• Apparently the clutch isn’t sensitive, that’s just my opinion and I’ve not driven much.

• Service light with a spanner beside it lights up from time to time not the check engine light.

We know it isn’t exactly a BMW but it isn’t quite junk either.. well unless it’s near death ! We’re hoping to keep it alive for maybe another 9 months at least if we can.

Amongst our vehicles, my husband uses a Saturn to commute back and forth to work - some 2 hours each way. It too has high miles on it, but he ensures that the oil is changed every 5000 miles and it is serviced regularly. I think you need to give your car some TLC if you expect it to last much longer.

Dirty oil can cause a multitude of problems, dirty air filter, low fluid levels, etc. If you can't afford to get it serviced by a local garage, where they can check the entire vehicle over, at least take it to Jiffy Lube, or somewhere similar, where they will check all your fluids, filters, etc.

www.carforums.net is a good site, worth taking a look at.

Up until now this little car has taken a lot, been though quite a bit and has had more than a few miles put on it. I’ve more than gotten my monies worth from it. you’re correct it is in bad need of some TLC.

Thanks for the site, I’ll give it a look!

[GREEN/TRAN 0]

change the oil air cleaner and spay some carb cleaner in the throttle body alot of itand change the spark plugs and wiresand some fuel injecter cleaner about 2 times a month for awhile see if that helps

[Nikita2Charles 32]

I would start with a good tune up.

Oil change with new oil filter

Air Filter

Spark plugs, wire and distributor cap and rotor.

Check your tire pressure along with a balance wheel alignment.

[mawilson 2,133]

change the oil air cleaner and spay some carb cleaner in the throttle body alot of itand change the spark plugs and wiresand some fuel injecter cleaner about 2 times a month for awhile see if that helps

Wave some dead chickens over the carburettor while chanting mystic mantras.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Find a trustworthy local mechanic. Sounds like you have some suspension/power train (CV joints) problems for starters.

[desert_fox 32]

get a new clutch to start.

Next time the check engine light comes on, goes to AUTO ZONE and have them read dthe code for free. It will give you an idea where to start. Many codes will clear themselves if the problem doesnt repeat in the next two trips.

No idle adjustment for fuel injected cars...its computer controlled...does it only do it when the car is still cold?? If so, check the secondary air control valve.