Saturn Problems!?!

[betasniper]

Hello, the saturn has recently been getting worse and worse fuel economy as you can see from my fuel logs. I also noticed that it has less acceleration than it used to at the same MAP level (as monitored by a vacuum gauge). I did a compression test and the pressures have seemed to be higher than what they used to be but I didn't think that would cause worse economy. I did however notice some black stuff on the piston faces when looking in the spark holes. Maybe that is the cause? I read that you could clean the pistons with GM Piston Ring Cleaner. I also noticed the car doesn't coast as well as it used to. Anyway I would appreciate any advice you guys give.

Thanks!

*Less power for MAP reading
*Higher compression test (black piston coating)
*Car doesn't coast as it used to

[2000mc]

I'd concentrate on finding the cause of the reduced coasting. The extra drag on the car would make it feel like it's making less power than expected. The extra load might cause the engine to run richer than usual, creating the extra carbon / soot that you've seen... But I wouldn't read into that too much, wouldn't surprise me if it might be normal, this is just a reason you decided to look where you did.

Might start by jacking up the wheels, and checking for one that takes excessive effort to rotate

[MobilOne]

Check the engine timing as well. Wouldn't affect coasting; but, would affect mileage.

[betasniper]

Timing has never been changed since we originally purchased the car. We are the original owners and I don't believe the engine has ever been apart.

The back wheels spin very freely. Spin times more than 5 sec.
The front wheels dont spin for half a second. Not hard to spin but they dont spin long. Spin better in neutral than park. (both wheels up)

[some_other_dave]

Do a tune up--change the plugs, the wires, the cap and rotor (if any), change the fluids and filters. Check the tire pressures and fill to max.

Cover the basics first.

-soD

[2000mc]

How big of a temperature change do you get with the seasons there? Looks like you're down to where you were, at around the same time last year

[ninetynineSC2]

Head over to saturnfans.com and post in the S series forum, tons of helpful Saturn people over there. Also, has the ECTS ever been changed?

[spacemanspif]

Sounds like dragging brakes. Check the calipers and maybe pull the slide pins and re lube them to make sure the calipers are floating freely. Saturnfans recommends syl-Glyde from NAPA as it won't cause the slide pin boots to swell and reduce pin float. Those cars like to have pins bend a little too and make the calipers go cock-eyed so check pad wear as well.

[basjoos]

A quick test for dragging brakes is to take your hand and feel the temperature of each wheel after you have been driving at speed for a while. Dragging brakes produce heat, so if one wheel is hotter than the others, you have either a dragging brake or a bad wheel bearing problem.

[War_Wagon]

Originally Posted by ninetynineSC2

Head over to saturnfans.com and post in the S series forum, tons of helpful Saturn people over there. Also, has the ECTS ever been changed?

That'd be my guess too. My '98 started getting worse and worse mileage, and getting really hard to start. Had the original ECTS in it, which had cracked. Changed it myself in an hour or so and for $12 it solved all my problems.