1999 Saturn SL2 Car won't start

Tiny
DOULA71
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 SATURN SL2
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 14,000 MILES
Someone please help! We've checked everything we (he) could think of but my Saturn won't start. Sunday I went to Walmart, when I was finished shopping (about 30 minutes) I came out tot he car and it wouldn't start. After about 45 minutes I tried again and it started right up. Flash forward to last night.I went out to move my car and it wouldn't start, again. So I waited like last time and tried again to no avail. It still won't start and we have no idea why! There wasn't a problem, that we knew of, until Sunday's debacle. Can someone please me help me?
Thursday, August 26th, 2010 AT 7:43 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
First thing I need to know is does it crank no start?Or no crank no start?Also do you have a multimeter?
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Thursday, August 26th, 2010 AT 7:56 PM
Tiny
DOULA71
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  • 6 POSTS
I can turn the key but get nothing. It will play the door dings and the radio, the lights come on, the dash lights come on like they would if it started, it just doesn't turn over and start.
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Thursday, August 26th, 2010 AT 9:44 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Sound's like a bad starter do you have a test light or multimeter to trace power?
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Thursday, August 26th, 2010 AT 9:51 PM
Tiny
DOULA71
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  • 6 POSTS
Uhhhh I'm going to say no since I've never heard of those lol Can I get one at Auto Zone and are fairly inexpensive?
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Thursday, August 26th, 2010 AT 10:13 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I would just get a test there pretty cheap and easy to use. Auto zone should have one.
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Thursday, August 26th, 2010 AT 10:56 PM
Tiny
DOULA71
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you saturntech. I have thought it was the starter from the get go but he kept saying he didn't think that was it.
Is a multimeter and a test light the same thing?
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Friday, August 27th, 2010 AT 4:25 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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No a multimeter is a meter that can read out ohm's value's and voltage some of the more expensive one's can read other thing's as well.A test light is a lot easier to use it has a aligator clip on one end which you hook to ground if your testing for power or hook to positive if your checking for ground. The other end has a sharp point for probing and testing there is a light bulb inside it that light's up to tell you if you have power or ground depending on which you are looking for. It doesn't tell you what voltage the power is like the multimeter but the brighter the bulb is lit the more power you have. If you had a dimly lit bulb and you where looking for battery voltage or a good ground then you would know you didn't have one. Your best bet would be to get a 12 volt test light since you don't know what they are or how to use them.A 12 volt test light would work fine to check what we have to check.
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Friday, August 27th, 2010 AT 11:38 AM
Tiny
DOULA71
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Thank you again! I will get the test light tonight and give you an update later. I really appreciate your help!
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Friday, August 27th, 2010 AT 3:50 PM
Tiny
DOULA71
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Ok we figured it out. Thank you! It's the solenoid/starter. We have it working temporarily but they're gonna need replaced.
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Friday, August 27th, 2010 AT 7:27 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Your welcome that's what we like to here that's what were here for to help people fix there car's. Glad to here you have it figured out.
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Friday, August 27th, 2010 AT 8:32 PM

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