1996 Other Saturn Models hard cold starting

RON HENDERSON

MEMBER
1996 SATURN
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
12,800 MILES

Last winter had no problem. This winter the car has become hard to start when cold or has been sitting for a "longish" period of time. In the morning it's about 50 degrees and I crank it for about 20-30 seconds and nothing. Turn the key again and nothing. Do it again and maybe it will try but no cigar. Crank it a couple more times and it starts to sputer. Do it again and then it races up to about 2k rpm and then drops down to about 800 rpm and then sputers out. Crank it again and it starts at about 800 to 1k rpm but I have to feather the thaotle for about a block or 2 before it starts running like the little red saturn I used to know. Could it be injectors, fuel filter, plugs? Bought the car used and I bet they never did any maintainence on it! Gimme your best guess. 1996 SL2 4 banger dohc 16 valves. Thanks so much. Ron

3 Replies

BLACKOP555

MECHANIC
10,371 POSTS

Is there any way you can have it in a heated garage to verify this is only when the car is cold?

Please post back what you find.

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Thursday, January 17th, 2008 AT 7:18 PM

RON HENDERSON

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Yeah, kinda. I usually get out about 6-7a.M., But thursday the 17th I got out at about 9:30a.M and it was about 60-65 degrees instead of 34 degrees like at 3:a.M. And it was a whole lot easier to start. Only took about 3 kicks (i used to ride dirt bikes when I was "back in the day"-- three kick is like dirt bike jargon.) Anyway, there is a "Z" shaped vacum hose kinda all by its self running from about the middle of the air cleaner tube forward to the right side of the front valve cover. The valve cover right next to the saturn emblem that says "saturn---16 valve dual overhead cam on the right side of the engine. It is cracked at both ends and clearly needs to be relaced or at the very least have a couple of hose clamps put on it to try and seal it. I grew up having to try to fix things with duct tape and bailing wire, if you know what I mean and old habits are hard to break. Replace is much better than stupid hose clamps (the shade tree way.) Could that be the problem although i'm leaning toward the fuel pump bleeding back. Thanks so much for your intrest. I contacted the kerney mesa (san diego area) saturn dealer (the closest one in my area, about 120 mile away, and all they did was start sending me e-mails about what great deals they have for me on a new saturn. Peckerheads! But really, thanks for taking the intrest and time with me. Your newest best bud, Ron.