Car wont start HELP!!!

teamtruett · 02-05-2006, 08:20 PM

Tried starting my sw2/MT today and when it cranked it sounded different. It sputtered then nothing. The sound when it cranks sounds "off" I dont know how to explain it. It will sputter and then I smell gas. Looks like Im taking off tomorrow so please throw some possibilties my way... The only good thing about this is that it happened in my driveway

[hed] · 02-06-2006, 05:10 AM

Looks like your flooding it, my chevy i had before my saturn did the same thing. After like 1400 in parts i finally said forget it. But here are a few things i changed out:

Ignition module and 2 coil packs (Saturns arent V6 except L series so we only have 2, and they come as a set with the module).
ECM
EGR valve
PCV valve
Fuel filter
FPR

Thats almost all of them, but its more than likely spark related, meaning fuel. Id check the module, see what condition its in, its pretty hard to tell if its out or not so make sure its out before changing it. And if its your timing, get that fixed before even attempting to start it again, try and start it too many times and say goodbye to your motor if your timing is messed up.

brad_bb · 02-06-2006, 02:34 PM

I'll bet dollars to donuts that your temp sender (located in your cylinder head) is bad or the connector is bad. It tells your computer that your engine is overheating and the engine then dumps more fuel in to cool the engine. (Unburned fuel absorbes heat and carries it out the exhaust). This is a false signal since your engine is cold and thus your engine is being flooded. You can go to the Saturn dealer and buy the sensor, I think it's $9-$22, can't remember exactly. They also will likely have the connector repair kit in stock which is the connector with leads that you splice/solder in place of your old connector. It's also about $20.
The earlier temp sensors were part plastic and they would not last longterm. The replacement is all brass.

teamtruett · 02-07-2006, 04:08 PM

I was told to floor it when starting it and to my surprised it worked. No problems since but it sounds like changing the temp sensor is a good idea to start with

teamtruett · 02-07-2006, 04:09 PM

Is the temp sensor a "dealer only" part??? $20 bucks seems cheap for a dealer supplied part

PurdueGuy · 02-07-2006, 04:16 PM

assuming temp sensor = Engine Coolant Temperature Sensor (ECTS)

Nope, not a dealer only part. About $20 at the dealer, usually $10-15 at a parts store. If you buy it at a regular parts store, look before you buy. The older sensors are resin (plastic) tipped and crack after a few years & go bad (usually why they need replaced), but the newer ones are brass tipped and rarely go bad. If you buy at the dealer, it WILL be brass tipped - parts stores could go either way.

How-to for replacement (with pics) found here:

http://spocnorth.com/HowToSite/DIYGu...eries-Main.htm

shabubs · 02-07-2006, 07:36 PM

I had the exact same thing happen to our Saturn last week - dead, but would crank if we floored the gas. My repair guy said it was the coolant temp. sensor. They told me they would replace it for $90 (parts and labor).

PurdueGuy · 02-07-2006, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shabubs

I had the exact same thing happen to our Saturn last week - dead, but would crank if we floored the gas. My repair guy said it was the coolant temp. sensor. They told me they would replace it for $90 (parts and labor).

It's soooo easy to DIY. $15 is much cheaper than $90.