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Debra A, Klecak Posted on Jun 16, 2019
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I have 1999 Saturn SL1. I use to live sea level then moved to altitude.1400’. As I was driving 60 mph, started to go up a mountain the speed dropped to 40mph, the engine in my poor car sounded like it was going to go on me. Only have 40,000 miles on it, bought new. I read that cars can be tuned for high altitude, would anyone know how it’s done on my car! Thanks Debra

1 Answer

Vernon Taylor

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  • Saturn Master 7,446 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 16, 2019
 Vernon Taylor
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Joined: Oct 05, 2008
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1400 feet is almost no height a all. You are correct about vehicle engines needing some small adjustments to the amount of fuel entering the engine at high altitude but hardly any correction is needed at 1400 feet - now if it was 1400 metres it would be reasonable to blame altitude as a factor in your car's lack of uphill performance.

My instinct is to suggest there is a problem with your car. 40,000 miles is no guarantee of no problems, it is after all 20 years old so the injector spray patterns could be bad or the catalytic converter could be half blocked, either of which can have a dramatic effect on performance...

5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 702 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 10, 2008

SOURCE: 98 Saturn SL 1 sputters

Have a scanner hooked up to your car and do a data stream to see if your knock sensor is still working. On a heavy load, if the ECM detects detenation in the engine, it will automatically want to ****** the timing to make it run better on a load.

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Anonymous

  • 156 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 23, 2009

SOURCE: 97 Saturn SL1 leaking antifreeze, high RPMs, uses excessive gas

wow it sounds like you have a few problems going on. One, your idle speed is set too high and needs to be lowered. Two, i would replace your temperature sensor so that you can monitor your overheating. As well as try and see where the leaking is coming from (i.e. the radiator cap, on the radiator itself, or where the hoses run into the engine-could be engine temperature sensor). Three, if you have to prime your engine at first to get it to run then more than likely fuel pump is going bad.

Anonymous

  • 77 Answers
  • Posted on May 07, 2009

SOURCE: Saturn SL 2002 High Idle

Intake manifold gasket. Leaking where intake meets head.

Anonymous

  • 39 Answers
  • Posted on May 29, 2009

SOURCE: 1999 saturn sl1 rough idling

a pit\ston might not be working properly

Anonymous

  • 1 Answer
  • Posted on Oct 15, 2009

SOURCE: high idle

Clean the Idle Air Control Valve. It's on the throttle body below the Throttle Position Sensor. Worked for me! Good luck.

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