My mother has a 1996 Saturn SL2 with 96,100 miles on it. Tomorrow, I plan to replace the following items prior to having the vehicle "smogged" in hopes of avoiding the problem I had last time: (More on that later)

- New NGK Copper Spark Plugs
- New ACDelco Spark Plug Wires
- New ACDelco PCV Valve
- New Maxlife 5w30 Engine Oil + Purolator PP Oil Filter
- Clean EGR valve
- Clean Throttle Body
- New Fram Airhog Air Filter
- New Wix Fuel Filter
- New Valve Cover Gasket
- Sand contacts on coil pack towers

During the last smog inspection in 10/04 at 76,299 miles, the vehicle barely passed (on the second try) due to very high Hydrocarbons. Per my records, the spark plugs, air filter, oil, and fuel filter were all replaced about 7000 miles beforehand. One thing to note: it was found that the spark plug tube seal on cylinder #1 had been seeping oil when replacing the plugs at 70k miles. It was NOT repaired, and won't be until tomorrow. However, would this be the cause of my problems? At 76k miles, I didn't think that the Oxygen Sensors or Catalytic Converter would fail so soon.

Here's a scan of the last smog results:



Any help/suggestions for improving my results is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

I had a high-mileage Civic Si (12 years, 245,000 km) that would suddenly start to act up, about every six months; it would run rough, and it seemed like the engine was about to die, but never did. Usually a Check Engine Light would come on. I'd use 1/3 of a spray can of Canadian Tire Throttle Body & Combustion Chamber Cleaner; I could see it remove the varnish in the TB, and just assumed it took out some of the deposits in the cylinders and off the O2 sensor. The car always ran great after this treatment, for another six months, and the CEL was gone.

I used to also fill up with a couple of tanks of Sunoco 94 (with ethanol? here) just before the E-test. I always tried to drive the snot out of the car, so I didn't have to change anything there.

 

[QUOTE= At 76k miles, I didn't think that the Oxygen Sensors or Catalytic Converter would fail so soon.[/QUOTE]

Could be, it is a GM product!

 

True, I guess only on a GM product would need an alternator replacement be needed at 63k miles...