My 99 saturn SL1 revs high on cold start. Around 2000 to 2500 when I start it in the mornings. It taks maybe 5 10 secs then it falls to about 1500. That to me just sounds awful high reved on a cold engine. Is that normal? It has the sohc with new plugs and a new O2 sensor. A new radiator fan motor in back seat waiting on better weather.

some cars can do that for a short bit when cold. but possibly the intake gasket could be going if it hasnt been replaced.

I had higher than normal revs, and it was the intake gasket.
You can check the gasket with some carb cleaner, spray around the intake gasket, and listen for rev changes. mine was bad at cylinder #1.
I chickened out of changing it myself, but saw the the mechanic had removed the upper motor mount. Maybe that lets you bend the engine over for more access.

ah removing the intake isnt bad. removing the upper mount pretty much allows it to be raised or lower. it doesnt exactly let it roll forward.

but thats an idea to check for a bad intake gasket. get some carb-n-choke and spray where the intake manifold meets the head. do each intake runner seperately. the engine will act differently if theres a leak. the #1 cylinder is normally the issue one, cylinder closest to timing.

Thanx!!
How long before major problems or worse symptoms if it is the intake gasket?
I will check it after the weather turns a lil better.
calling for freezing rain and sleet and snow this weekend

drivability will suffer, maybe cause internal damage from foreign objects able to fit between surfaces at leak. you can even run the cylinder lean.

this is all if the intake gasket is bad, which from many other instances, it probably is.

The tech said I was getting close to a coolant leak beside cly #4. I saw where the gasket had been distorted near the coolant port.