My son's '94 Saturn began will not start.

BCBJNE

MEMBER
1994 SATURN SC1
135,000 MILES

1.9 SOHC, Auto began losing power as he was driving home. Shut it off and now it won't start. It is getting fuel, but was initially getting no spark. When he pulled the plugs they were burnt and corroded badly but have less than 10k miles on them. He has replaced the plugs, wires, coil packs, and the ignition control module. After replacing the ICM he will occasionally get what his spark tester registers as a 'weak spark'.

He has also had the battery tested and it is good.

Any suggestions?

6 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

So the spark he gets is a orange/yellow?Also is there battery voltage going to the ignition module?So what is the actual fuel pressure?Have you checked for injector pluse?Also have you checked for codes?Its cranking over normal speed when trying to start it?

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Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 AT 3:49 PM

BCBJNE

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4 POSTS

It is not throwing a code. A spark tester used at a plug wire boot gives him a 'weak' spark readind intermittently while the care is cranking, and it is cranking at normal speed while cranking.

Have not checked the actual fuel pressure or for injector pulse. I told him to unplug the injector and then crank it and see what that does to the reading the spark tester gives him.

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Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 AT 7:19 PM

BCBJNE

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4 POSTS

Spark is bright blue.

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Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 AT 10:14 PM

SATURNTECH9

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30,870 POSTS

Bright blue spark is not a weak spark yellow would be. Unpluging the injector shouldnt effect spark. You need to check actual fuel pressure and see if you have injector pluse. So is it sparking good on all the cylinders when checked with a spark plug?Also another I would check is if the spark is good is the coolant temp sensor that can cause a no start. It would be the bottom sensor with two wires going to it a black one and a yellow one. Also inspect the connector too it the inside of it if the terminals are blue or green instead of silver then you have to replace the connector.

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Thursday, May 17th, 2012 AT 7:00 AM

BCBJNE

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4 POSTS

I'm headed to his apartment today and we'll check all the things you've listed when I get there.

The one thing that threw me was the fouled and burnt plugs he found when the car originally started giving him trouble. This thing was a basket case when we bought three years ago and everything that he's checked and you've suggested checking was replace at that time, even the coolant temp. Sendor.