Our Community is 940,000 Strong. Join Us.


97 SL2 wont start Please Help ASAP!


libertyspike138
03-31-2009, 02:09 PM
A friend of mine has a 97 Saturn SL2 that broke down some time ago. I had it towed back to my place. The key was lost so I took the harness off the steering column and tried to start with jumpers. The starter wasn't spinning so I replaced the battery and now it does. I hear the fuel pump kick in when jumping the key in wires. I disconnected the gas lines after the fuel filter to make sure it was getting gas. I checked all 4 plugs and they have spark. I checked all the injector wires with a noid light and they are fine. I ran an OBD test with no errors. I ran a compression test on all 4 which checked out ok. I took the fuel rail out and see that gas is getting to the injectors but not spraying out of them. I replaced the injectors and gas is still not shooting out. It's hard times so we need to get this going ASAP. Thank's in advance!

RC1488
03-31-2009, 08:56 PM
Put the wires back in the car correctly. Go to saturn with the title or registration and get a NEW key. Its $20 bucks. While your there get a new ECTS. Its $17.

Go home and replace the ECTS. Then put the key in RUN for 2 seconds or untill you hear the Humm of the fuel pump stop. Then start the car. Hold the pedal at Wide Open Throttle incase any excess fuel is in the engine cylinders if it does not start the first time.

libertyspike138
04-01-2009, 09:37 PM
I replaced the ECTS and the fuel filter but haven't got a key yet. I was thinking that although you hear the fuel pump turn on it might not have enough pressure to get through the injectors. Fuel will come out of the test valve on the rail but doesn't spray with much force like it does on my Dodge. Could the lack of enough pressure cause fuel to get to the rail but not out of the injector's? If so would this be a faulty fuel pump or something else? Thanks!

RC1488
04-01-2009, 11:38 PM
The '97 year had a faulty check valve in pump. This means that if the car sits for to long it looses fuel pressure at the rails. The fix: get a new pump or let the pump prime the rail before starting. I suggest the latter of the two. By putting the key in the RUN position for 2 seconds, it primes the rail to the proper pressure. You may want to do this twice to be sure its pressurized.

The rail should see 38 psi from the sharder valve with the key in RUN iirc

libertyspike138
04-19-2009, 08:59 AM
OK so I finally got it back together and got a key made but that did not make any difference. I replaced the fuel pump with one from the salvage yard and there is a little more pressure and I finally see some gas come out the injectors but still no start. If I gas it while cranking it makes a different low pitched noise but still no start. I'm stumped?

libertyspike138
04-19-2009, 04:46 PM
I checked the plugs and they were a little wet so I dried and checked them all for spark again. The ECTS has already been replaced. There is barely any pressure at the check valve with the key to run after priming several times. If I disconnect the return line at the engine gas squirts out after cranking?
Also tried starting fluid but no start seemed the throttle body blew it back a little.

RC1488
04-19-2009, 10:02 PM
Head over to saturnfans.com. Im out of ideas :/

SC2ner
04-20-2009, 01:57 PM
Did you happen to check the fuses after your wonderful idea of splicing wires? Did you even disconnect the right wires or did you do this at random? I would put everything back the way it was, check the fuses and get a key made.

Add your comment to this topic!