My car won't start. Car was working fine till about a week ago code P0123

Tiny
ISAAC-R
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 SATURN L300
  • 162,000 MILES
I turned the car off and wouldn't start back up the next morning. I just got this car in feb. I got everything fixed when I bought it. If I would leave the car on for a while like 1 hour like not shutting it off letting it idal the servise light would come on and every time it shifted It would give me a kick. I had that looked at and no one can figer out whats wrong.

So resently I Check the oil about 6 weeks ago it was reading no oil so I put some in ( there was somthing wrong It wasnt picking up like it was( when I laid on the gas wouldn't go as fast)) and the next day the car was blowing white smoke out the exsost had it looked at and told me there was too much oil in it. Ok so they said I didn't cause any damage to the engine. So was working fine till it started to stall ( I parked on an incline and tryed to start it.

It didn't want to it took me a good 5 of turning over the engine till it fired up) the it was working fine untill a cupple days later I tried starting and nothing the engine turns over but wont start. I ran the battery dead had someone jump me we waited like an hour and finally started but the car was running tarible ( when changing gears it would like drop kick then pick up it was strange then after it worked up it was fine started right up) took it home and now won't start at all. I put heat in it no changed sparks Checked the fuel injectors cleaned everything I took out, put it all back and nothing.

We check all the fuse checked the fuel filter. I took it to the shop got the dionostic and the code it gave me was p0123 and throttle posiotion senser and I can't find where that is I took the trotted body off. And that's where I am
Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 AT 6:18 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Start with basics. Fuel pressure test, spark test and compression. Without these, it will not run.

The white smoke concerns me as that indicates burning coolant from possible blown head gasket

Roy
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Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
ISAAC-R
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No blown head gasket he check everything and said everything was fine. He said the wite smoke was the overflow oil burning off but I will tell him to bring his tools over agian. Btw that was fast thanks
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Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 AT 6:50 PM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
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White smoke is not oil, it is coolant burning.

No offense but if everything is fine, we would not be having this conversation. Get the fuel pressure test done and get back to us

Roy
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Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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The reason you cant find the throttle position sensor is because its built into the throttle body there is two of them.I would start with diagnosing the code P0123. That car has a throttle by wire system when there is a failure in the throttle system it can cause the car to start.
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Tuesday, July 17th, 2012 AT 11:58 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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  • 30,869 POSTS
Also the hard shifting is usually caused by a bad pressure control solenoid.I have replaced a ton of them on that car for hard shifting. Can set a code P1811 when the solenoid fails bad enough or long enough. Another common issue on those cars is the throttle body wires going to the throttle body break inside the insulation from vibration. They have a zip tie wire harness holder that goes around the throttle servo motor to keep the wire harness after replacing it from doing the same thing. Also along with the new harness they have you replace the throttle body assembly. Theres a bulletin for this but it involves other codes set then the one you have.I have seen the code you have be a bad harness throttle body though. Are you sure thats the only code you have?
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Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 AT 12:08 AM
Tiny
ISAAC-R
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  • 5 POSTS
That was the only code the parts store gave me when they hook the dionostic thing. So the guy cam yesterday and did the fuel pressure test it's at 38-42 so he said it has pressure I got the throttle poison senser and I can't find where it goes the guy said it was the wrong one and I have to replace the whole throttle body he said that's where the senser is in that he said its like 3 in one where it idles the senser and when I push on the peddle it reads it I'll send a pic on the one the parts store gave me and what my car look like
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Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 AT 5:53 PM
Tiny
ISAAC-R
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  • 5 POSTS
It Won't let me put a pic on
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Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 AT 5:54 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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Did you read my two posts above the last two posts you just posted?I guess not?It explains how there is two built in non replacable throttle position sensors that you have to replace the whole throttle body. Also they have issues with the harness going to the throttle body. Please read them its good info.I know these cars well iam a saturn factory trained tech.
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Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 AT 6:13 PM
Tiny
ISAAC-R
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So you want me to cheak the harness?
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Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 AT 7:46 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The best way to check the harness is to get a scan tool that reads live data and watch the throttle position sensor voltage while moving the wires around. Even that doesnt always work though I have replaced a ton of those harnesses and throttle bodies on those cars. The guy your paying to look at your car should be checking these things.
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Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 AT 8:14 PM

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