97 Saturn dies while driving then hard restarting

STEVESKI

MEMBER
1997 SATURN SL2
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
137,000 MILES

'97 Saturn dies occasionally while driving. Engine stops and it has to be pulled to the shoulder. It has electrical power. Often after several minutes (5-30) it will start again and it may run for days before it happens again. It never fails to start initially in the morning but once it is driven and it dies, it is hard to start again. I am guessing its a sensor or the fuel pump. Any help would be appreciated.

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

So does it crank no start after it dies?Any code's?

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Saturday, March 5th, 2011 AT 2:00 AM

STEVESKI

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Yes, it cranks fine but just will not start. Just this evening it died suddenly about 1/2 mile from the house. Tried to start it several times after waiting for 5 mins or so and it cranks but would not start. Went home and waited about 30 mins and after returning it started just fine as though nothing was wrong. Have not had the codes check yet. I tried to do it myself by turning key on and off 3 times but it did not display any codes. Not sure if that works on Saturns though. Without a reader is there a way for me to display the codes? Intending to take it into shop Monday if I can't figure anything out.

By the way, I also have a 95 Saturn and it would not start when it had sat for more than 24 hrs. I read here that it was likely the ECTS sensor. I got one for $10 and replaced it myself and the car has had no problems since then and even idles better now so that advice was awesome.

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Saturday, March 5th, 2011 AT 3:31 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

Alright next time it cranks and won't start do this take two spark plug wire's off the coil tower's that are right next to each other and have someone crank the engine over if spark doesn't jump from tower to tower I would suspect a bad crank shaft position sensor. Pretty common on those car's you can test the sensor with a multimeter. The sensor's are only like 20. As far as checking code's on that car without a scan tool no you can't. You can on your 1995 saturn though. Let me know what you find.

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Saturday, March 5th, 2011 AT 3:48 AM

STEVESKI

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I assume spark test will only work once the car refused to start?

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Saturday, March 5th, 2011 AT 5:42 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

You are correct if the car is running you will have spark. Check it when it doesn't start we have to see what were missing when it doesn't start. Let me know what you find.