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Neuter '02 smog pump

My '02 SL has something that doesn't seem to exist on my '95 & '98 SL. See picture -->

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It's the black round object between the washer fluid resevoir & the bulkhead.

It is connected to the hose in front of it leading into some type of solenoid valve atop the A/C compressor and into the exahust header.

I suspect it is a smog pump. Can anyone confirm? If so, can it be disabled by simply disconnecting the electrical wires on it and the solenoid valve? Will this affect the engine computer?

If you're wondering why I want to disconnect it: sometimes I hear a whirring noise coming from this unit and and the idle RPM drops to 500 followed by lots of engine shaking and the RPM jumps back to 1200. During summer when the A/C is on, this is especially annoying/embarrassing as engine nearly stalls. Quality 1 year old Saturn automobile idles rougher than a rust bucket 23 year old Corolla next to it. This problem never existed on the '95 & '98. Talked to dealer and was told that the idle is controlled by computer so there's nothing he can do.

How can Saturn take a perfectly good '98 SL design and make it worse??

Reply to
Wilf Lee
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Yes, that is an electric air injection pump, which is commanded on in certain conditions with accompanying noise (the list of enable criteria looks rather complicated). The computer will complain eventually if you disconnect it (Check Engine light on, trouble code P0410 will set). The ECM expects to see the oxygen sensor show a lean condition with the AIR system operating, and if it doesn't, it will set the code.

Some drop in idle speed will be normal when it kicks in because of the high current draw, but I don't know if what you describe should be happening, that might signal some problem with the idle air control valve, not responding fast enough or something. You'd likely have to compare to a similar vehicle to see if that's normal on that model.

I'm guessing the AIR system is something they had to put on to get that engine to meet newer, stricter emissions standards. Probably one of the reasons Saturn isn't using that engine anymore..

Reply to
Robert Hancock

Probbably. It's not like this stuff's an afterthought anymore.

I bet there's something wrong.

Gee, that's so 1970's. They haven't had air pump on cars in years, at least I've not seen any. IIRC, some 80's GM cars didsn't have EGR either.

In any case, wouldn't this be covered under the emisions warrenty anyway? Besides, the AIR system (not to mention EVAP) are great things

- big emissions cuts with no power/economy loss...

Reply to
Philip Nasadowski

I don't think there's many other GM cars that have used AIR systems at all recently, just the Saturns (though the Corvette is another one that comes to mind as having it). The L-series cars with the Ecotec do have them, but only for cold-start use, it doesn't kick in afterwards like it apparently does on the original poster's model.

The new Ecotec engine does not need any EGR either..

Reply to
Robert Hancock

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