2001 Saturn SL1 SOHC P0301 and P0341

[leota22]

So my car hates going up hills now. It gets up to about 20mph and slows down to sometimes 10mph when uphill. It stutters and shakes when I get up to about 35mph on the road. My friends say it sounds like a spaceship or old diesel truck.

I replaced the spark plug wires a few weeks ago and it did nothing. I have a sneaking suspicion it's the intake manifold gasket or the crankshaft sensor. However, I don't have the means to lift the car up myself and do the work, but I also don't have hundreds of bucks to spend on someone else to do it.

Anybody have any ideas on what I should do? And how? I'm pretty visual so I need some pictures of under hood to guide me through this.

Thank you in advance

[fdryer]

Pull the front O2 sensor off and drive. It will be LOUD. If the engine shows renewed power the catalytic converter crumbled and clogged the exhaust flow - the alternate exhaust hole allows breathing for the constipated exhaust system. Replace the catcon.

You can bang the catcon with your palm - there shouldn't be any loose cat guts. Loose cat guts is another sign of a crumbling catcon.

[td1238]

P0341 indicates cam shaft sensor issue. These cars do not have an actual cam shaft sensor, but rather a phantom sensor by detecting spark plug firing.

Be sure that wires at coils are oriented from left to right: 4,1,2,3. If not, this can cause hesitation and misfiring. Be sure that the wires are run side-by side in this order as well. Mixing the wires around or not having them oriented in looms properly can cause issues with ignition firing order.

Hesitation and lack of power can also be caused by other issues such as faulty ignition components. Ignition coils with shorts. High or low fuel pressure. Clogged injectors. An EGR valve that's stuck open. ...And others.

Typically, when an engine runs well under low power conditions, but runs poorly when high power is demanded, the issue is due to the ignition system or possibly high or low fuel pressure (more likely low).

[madpogue]

CPS has nothing to do with either of those codes. The 301 is indeed likely the intake manifold gasket; spraying around the joint between the #1 runner and the head will confirm.

[td1238]

P0341 indicates cam sensor trouble. See my original post above.