Hi all, first post for m looking to see if anyone has some insight. I recently ran the engine codes i was getting from my 02 115000 miles sc2 and they indicated bad o2 sensor, cam shaft position sensor and ects. I replaced the o2 sensor first and things ran fine for 2000 miles. Then upon getting the cam shaft sensor warning and having the car become dificult to start. i replaced the valve cover gasket and all spark plugs. The old ones were covered in oil so i figured that the advice i found online to replace thr cover gasket was good. Now i am seeing the engine temp gauge run cold initially or show normal temp. I will occasionally see it flash to hot. Now the car is back to having the same trouble starting and is making frightening sounds during routine driving. Any advice?

 

To clarify the ects reads as all the way cold the majority of the time after functioning for around 5 mins after starting. Also i don't have access to my engine code reader until next weekend

 

Ahhh, yes -- the favorite Saturn problem arises again.

Short answer here --> replace the ECTS and its electrical connector. GET PARTS FROM GM DEALER !!! Also make sure the replacement ECTS has a metal tip, and not a resin-tip sensing unit.

Now - about the "frightening sounds" your ride is making -- please be more specific

 

Sounds come while idling or shifting down. Random rev ups or downs followed by return to normal rpm. Lots of vibration and rattling. The ECTS is replaced and the car will start better than before. It was having trouble restarting before cooling down. The random changes in rpm's are ocasionally still happening, much less frequent. Ill be driving it about 100 miles tomorrow and should get a better clue of how its doing.

 

Hopefully, you didn't replace the plugs with platinum types - these little engines don't work well with them ...