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1997 Saturn SL not starting


DebbiR
04-14-2009, 12:38 PM
:shakeheadMy 1997 SL is not starting. This is not all the time,just when i need it the most, or when i've stopped for gas at midnight on the interstate 200 miles from home. (Oh yes!) Turn the key nothing happens. Have headlights,interior,radio. tried jumping it,no help.The first time it did it we had stopped for gas, pump was out so started it moved to other side turned it off then it wouldn't start. tried jumping it two times,no luck, turned key on at least 50 times...no luck, then the third guy who stopped to help tried tightening the ground,tried it again it started. Started a dozen or so times over the next couple of days and it did it again. Tryed turning the negative terminal tighter again, tried it ,it started so it must be the ground right? Well replaced the ground battery cable, tried it several times while it sat there started fine. Moved it 50 feet or so,tryed it again wouldn't start. Kicked it...so much for the ground wire theory.Got up the next morning went out..it started. Drove it to advanced and had them hook it up to check battery/alternator/charging. Machine says everything is fine. Decided to give it another chance next morning, started, drove about 1/2 mile, forgot cell phone,ran back, turned it off ,ran back out, won't start. Now ready to use it for target practice.Still keep thinking its something to do with the battery wires because everytime it has started back up,with the exception of letting it sit overnight, i had just messed with the wires. Also am wondering if its a coincidence that all three times it's pulled this it had been started, ran for a short distance, and turned off.Also noticed that although i have interior ,radio etc, when it won't start the radio light does dim somewhat but I don't know if it does that all the time. I am laid off so a trip to the saturn garage is looking really expensive but i don't know what else to do. Any suggestions other than kicking it again? :shakehead

RC1488
04-15-2009, 10:27 AM
Remove the battery cables and clean the corrosion off of them. Also clean the battery terminals them selves.

DebbiR
04-16-2009, 07:36 AM
Did that at my buddys garage,drove it home, turned it off. Tried starting it again about 10 minutes later, won't start. Tried it again an hour later started. Any other suggestions? Thanks

RC1488
04-16-2009, 08:31 AM
During a no start situation, does the car crank over?

DebbiR
04-16-2009, 10:54 PM
No,does not crank. Does nothing,no clicking like a low battery would sound, but the fuel pump is running,radio turns on.and all regular dash lights come on when you turn the key 1/2 way but turn it the whole way and nothing changes.The only thing i've noticed is that the radio light goes a little dim, but i don't know if its always done that. Also , now that i'm looking for to things to be wrong i've noticed that my radio light is really bright and goes pretty dim when you turn the headlights on. Again,might be normaL or???? My husband had to move it out of the way tonight.Hadn't messed with since yesterday morning. It started right up moved it 200 ft. Turned it off, hr later wouldn't start. Any ideas???

RC1488
04-17-2009, 08:23 AM
hmmmm.....check the cables thoroughly. Make sure they are seated properly at the battery and make sure the other ende of the cables are corrosion free.

The other thing if its an auto:
During a no start, move the shifter into N. Then try cranking it.
Manual:
Make sure you clutch switch is working properly with an ohm meter. You can jumper the switch if needed.

The last thing is the starter. If possible, during a no start situation, get under the car and hit the starter with a mallet. Then try to start the car.

denisond3
04-17-2009, 03:47 PM
And remember the negative cables from battery to car/motor/wherever, are just as important as the positive cables.

SC2ner
04-20-2009, 02:04 PM
Make sure the negative cable is grounded properly. The one to the trans and the one to the body. Also check into the coil packs and make sure they are alright. Try cleaning them and the towers off as well as the ICM (Ignition Control Module).

Sometimes it helps to pull the sleeve back on the cables to make sure they are not corroded inside the wire itself.

ronaldk
06-23-2009, 09:57 PM
It sounds like bad connection on starter or starter solinoid or starter since your headlights dim when you turn ign if starter bearings bad or connection bad still shows drain you dont say car doesnt start and you charge batt so battery is not problem or charging sys or ign mod since it either turns over and then starts or no turn over in which case cant start. hope you fixed by now if not hope I helped

denisond3
06-24-2009, 06:04 AM
I too would be inclined to think it is a bad starter. Either the contacts in the solenoid are coated with crud or arced away, or the brushes are worn down, barely touching the commutator. These conditions produce those same symptoms you are experiencing in any car. Could also be a cable to the battery that has gotten badly corroded where it attaches to the starter.

ronaldk
06-24-2009, 06:18 PM
The only other thing I can think of is a bad ign switch or connection on ign switch

RC1488
06-24-2009, 07:48 PM
The only other thing I can think of is a bad ign switch or connection on ign switch

A bad switch would not give the "click click" noise. A bad switch means NO power is even getting to the starter. Since there is clicking that means there is power getting there, just not enough or enough but the starter is bad.

+1 bad connection. That will yield the same results.

ronaldk
06-25-2009, 03:44 PM
I see nowhere in her post that she says there is clicking in fact she says there is not even a clicking sound as she puts it like a dead battery ,of course if battery were dead we know it could not click

RC1488
06-25-2009, 06:38 PM
I see nowhere in her post that she says there is clicking in fact she says there is not even a clicking sound as she puts it like a dead battery ,of course if battery were dead we know it could not click

Eh crap I thought this was another thread. My apologies.

PS this thread is from April...

b1957r
02-23-2012, 12:57 PM
:shakeheadMy 1997 SL is not starting. This is not all the time,just when i need it the most, or when i've stopped for gas at midnight on the interstate 200 miles from home. (Oh yes!) Turn the key nothing happens. Have headlights,interior,radio. tried jumping it,no help.The first time it did it we had stopped for gas, pump was out so started it moved to other side turned it off then it wouldn't start. tried jumping it two times,no luck, turned key on at least 50 times...no luck, then the third guy who stopped to help tried tightening the ground,tried it again it started. Started a dozen or so times over the next couple of days and it did it again. Tryed turning the negative terminal tighter again, tried it ,it started so it must be the ground right? Well replaced the ground battery cable, tried it several times while it sat there started fine. Moved it 50 feet or so,tryed it again wouldn't start. Kicked it...so much for the ground wire theory.Got up the next morning went out..it started. Drove it to advanced and had them hook it up to check battery/alternator/charging. Machine says everything is fine. Decided to give it another chance next morning, started, drove about 1/2 mile, forgot cell phone,ran back, turned it off ,ran back out, won't start. Now ready to use it for target practice.Still keep thinking its something to do with the battery wires because everytime it has started back up,with the exception of letting it sit overnight, i had just messed with the wires. Also am wondering if its a coincidence that all three times it's pulled this it had been started, ran for a short distance, and turned off.Also noticed that although i have interior ,radio etc, when it won't start the radio light does dim somewhat but I don't know if it does that all the time. I am laid off so a trip to the saturn garage is looking really expensive but i don't know what else to do. Any suggestions other than kicking it again? :shakehead



Got a 97 saturn sc2, went to start nothing, no sound when key was turned. Had no interior lights, no power windows (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=6962093#), no power door locks, and no door chimes. Had lights on dash and radio, still nothing. Went to passenger side fuse panel (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=6962093#), popped it off and looked on back of panel, took out the one that is a 10 amp fuse marked body and replaced the new fuse and lord and behold it cranked! Hope this will work for some of yall that are having the same problem. .89 cent 10 amp fuse, and my car started!

b1957r
02-23-2012, 12:58 PM
Got a 97 saturn sc2, went to start nothing, no sound when key was turned. Had no interior lights, no power windows (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=6962093#), no power door locks, and no door chimes. Had lights on dash and radio, still nothing. Went to passenger side fuse panel (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=6962093#), popped it off and looked on back of panel, took out the one that is a 10 amp fuse marked body and replaced the new fuse and lord and behold it cranked! Hope this will work for some of yall that are having the same problem. .89 cent 10 amp fuse, and my car started!

b1957r
02-23-2012, 01:01 PM
Got a 97 saturn sc2, went to start nothing, no sound when key was turned. Had no interior lights, no power windows (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=6962093#), no power door locks, and no door chimes. Had lights on dash and radio, still nothing. Went to passenger side fuse panel (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=6962093#), popped it off and looked on back of panel, took out the one that is a 10 amp fuse marked body and replaced the new fuse and lord and behold it cranked! Hope this will work for some of yall that are having the same problem. .89 cent 10 amp fuse, and my car started!

mistyssnow
07-17-2016, 07:15 AM
Ok, I am having a problem with my saturn sl1 that is mind boggling. I am thinking it is the clutch switch but not sure. It is intermittently not starting, it cranks and will not turn over, if I keep cranking it after the fourth crank the battery is dead. If someone jump starts me it will start up. The lights do not dim at all radio works fine nice and bright. I took it to advanced auto parts and had them check the battery, alternator and starter all tested good. It will do it only every couple of months. No engine light or codes which is frustrating cause I have no idea what is wrong with it to bad the stupid thing cant talk right. nothing abnormal about it anyone have any ideas for me to try or has anyone had this problem also

denisond3
07-17-2016, 04:21 PM
If the battery tested good, but it acts like it is dead after a brief period of cranking the engine, I would suspect a bad battery cable or cables, or something in the wires between the battery and the fuse box under the hood. And the negative wires are just as important as the positive ones.
The fact that it cranks over (engine is turning), doesnt guarantee that the computer and the spark igniter is okay or getting enough voltage. The coil pack on the front side of the block needs to be well grounded to the block. The coils can be removed from the base - and the base has electronics in it. All those contacts should be clean, the connector in good shape. The Service Manual even recommends replacing the four bolts after each removal. (I just re-used them myself, but made sure the iron of the block was cleaned with emory paper, for good contact.

I dont know how the auto parts places test batteries, alternators and starters. If they didnt remove them for the test, then it wasnt a complete total test. Im still glad they have the service though.

I have had a battery that would work fine most of the time, and hardly work at all part of the time. Eventually I learned it had a cracked inter-cell connector. That battery would crank the engine over nicely for a few seconds. Then the cracked into-cell connection would get heated up - and the engine cranking would slow dramatically.

We have had several Saturns in the family, both SL1 and SL2's. With three of them I added a pushbutton on the left side of the dashboard, that would feed 12 volts to the -small- terminal on the solenoid atop the starter. This was becuase the sophisticated electronics that car had would sometimes decide to not spin the starter. My pushbutton would always do it, because it bypassed the various safety interlocks. With the ignition on, pushing the button would spin and it would be running.

Another interlock that I never had trouble with, but others did, was the 'range sensor' on the transmission. This was also the 'neutral safety switch', to prevent the starter from working unless it was in park or neutral. Or at least when the switch believed it was in park or neutral. But if your starter is spinning the engine, that switch would not be the problem.

If your battery cables are in poor condition, it might be worthwhile to replace them. It will be a time consuming job though. The small bolts on the side terminal batteries take an 8mm socket - and preferably a 6 point kind, not the more common 12 point kinds. 5/16" is the same size as 8mm by the way.

Rasp
07-17-2016, 08:25 PM
Another idea to try.

Maybe swap a known good battery from a different car and see if that fixes the problem. At the very least it would rule out the problem being the battery.

Also as stated above make sure connections to the battery are clean from corrosion. If they are corroded you can make a quick solution of baking soda and vinegar to clean them very easily.

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