1998 Other Saturn Models turns over but occasional hard star

Tiny
JOSHUAJJACKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 SATURN
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 104,000 MILES
I have a 98 saturn SC2.
Sometimes, when I attempt start, it cranks and starts, then the engine immeadietly tries to stall. I can get it to stay on, by holding down the gas until it works itself out.

While on the gas, it sounds like it catches then tries to stall over and over again, sometimes causing wrather violent vibration. I usually need to keep on the gas(between half to floored) for about 10-30 seconds, all the while smelly dark smoke is comming out of the exhaust.

It does not always happen, but I rightly expect it to happen under certin conditions. It always seems to happen when it is raining out, or if I give the car a bath(wash it) and I can reproduce it in fair weather, by turning on the engine for 1 second, off and restart immeadiatly. Sometimes it takes a try or two to make it happen, but it has never failed. In good weather conditions, and normal driving it usually seems to be fine.

The check engine light does not come on while driving

The car does not use much oil(anywhere from 1/2 to 1 quart between changes) but the exhaust always seems to smell a bit.

I resciently changed oil(i do every 3k), and with it I did the plugs, wires, and air filter(they where due)

The problem presist.

Any thoughts?
Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 AT 12:35 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Start by changing plugs and plug wires and if problem persists get back to us and we can go from there but I think this will fix it.
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Tuesday, May 27th, 2008 AT 6:58 AM
Tiny
JOSHUAJJACKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
It was happening before and after the new plugs/wires, I changed them because gas milage was slipping.
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Thursday, May 29th, 2008 AT 12:07 AM
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
Well a few things come to mind. Im bothered by the damp weather causing the problem, that always leans toward ignition breakdown, like a coil that is getting moisture inside it. But you say it gets better by cycling the key and that is a sign of priming the fuel pump so you could also have a fuel pump problem or a fuel pressure regulator leaking or not holding pressure. So you are at the point of needing a fuel pressure gauge to check fuel pressure and relook at the coils to see if there is any sign of swelling or cracks
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Thursday, May 29th, 2008 AT 5:45 AM
Tiny
JOSHUAJJACKSON
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I didn't need to keep on the key, just the gas. I think you are on the right track there, and I may have accidentally stumbled on the problem.

The lights where left on, and it killed the battery. I hooked to a charger. It worked for two days, then no crank. I guess I killed a cell.

Took the battery out, to trade for a new. It is wrapped in foam around the sides, and sitts on a plastic tray. A metal bracket is over the battery keeping it down to the tray. I could not see the battery before I was removing it.

There was corrosion across the top where the bracket was touching the battery, and the tray was filled with water, with corrosion on the bolts in the tray.

Is it possible that the water was partly grounding me out at the battery, until there was enough corrosion to insulate?

I don't know if it still happening, it didn't rain yet.
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Tuesday, June 3rd, 2008 AT 12:33 AM

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