Help with '92 SC

Matt · 09-07-2002, 05:40 PM

On my '92 SC, when it's not up to operation temp. it doens't drive the greatest. It seem like it has poor acceleration, but one it hit 4K RPM's it opens up. Once it reaches normal operating temp. it drives fine, but before operatng temp. it seems very sluggish. The only mods it has is a hotshot intake, dynomax exhaust, and 55mm TB. It almost seems like the car isn't getting enough fuel. The next thing I was thinking of doing is upgrading the plugs and wires to NGK v-powers and Accel thundersport wires. Right now it just has stock replacements. Please any help.

Yobos4vr · 09-07-2002, 06:07 PM

in 92 i believe there's 1 sensor in the coolent reserve tank that monitors engine temp and also the fluid level in that tank. if that is gone bad it will tell your car that's it's hot when in fact it's not. causing it to run like crap until it warms up. i nkow that happened in my 97. then temp sensor in the head went bad. my car ran like crap cold. once it warmed up it ran good. the temp needle would also bounce around at the end.

Matt · 09-07-2002, 07:10 PM

My temp. needle doesn't bounce.

**Ssicarman** · 09-08-2002, 08:05 AM

Could be the coolant temp sensor. The 92 uses two, one for the gauge and one or the PCM. The PCM one is more to the middle of the rear of the head and lower than the gauge sensor and is a two wire one.

Matt · 09-08-2002, 05:20 PM

OK, is there any other way I can tell if the PCM coolant temp. sensor is going bad? I'd hate to get a part that I didn't need.

Pete_Morgan · 09-08-2002, 10:45 PM

test it with a voltmeter. Believe it or not, on the 92, the sensor for the tranny, throttle sensor and coolant temp sensors are all the exact same. Strange heh?

My car did that when it was cold. When I got the new sensor it was fine forever.

Quick question. Have you noticed any black smoke come out of the exhaust when it was turned on? If so it is for sure your coolant temp sensor. I am not talking about a ton of smoke. Just a little bit.

Had any trouble starting when it is cold out?? Same thing.

Pete

Matt · 09-09-2002, 05:15 AM

Yeah it does have a little puff of black smoke on start up, but it's not hard to start when cold. I'll try getting a new sensor, can't be that much. Right?

Pete_Morgan · 09-09-2002, 06:49 AM

It was like 60 bucks canadian (probably 35 USD) installed by a Saturn dealer. They had to do it because it wouldn't start in the mornings.

Pete

Yobos4vr · 09-09-2002, 03:46 PM

on my 97 SL2 the temp sendor in the head cost me a whopping $5.00 from NAPA.

wolfman · 09-10-2002, 01:50 AM

I will only make the correction that the coolant temp sensor is NOT in the resivior tank. (that's the coolant LEVEL sensor) It is screwed into the cylinder head just above and to the left of the EGR valve. The 2 wire sensor is the one for the PCM. The other possible culprit is the IAT (intake air temp) sensor in the plastic air snorkle (air intake) for the throttle body. Location varies alittle between years/models but the IAT is the ONLY sensor you will find in the air intake system.