1997 Other Saturn Models Car wont start

GOALLSTOPPER21

MEMBER
1997 SATURN
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
85,000 MILES

Ok heres the deal. My 1997 saturn sc2 wont start so I got the battery and alternator both tested at autozone. Both these tested fine. The car will crank and turn over it just wont start. Since the car is manual I can kick-start it. When I did have the battery and alternator tested they said it dropped very low in voltage when I turned the car on. After I kick start the car it will run fine and then start again that entire day. After I let it sit about a day or maybe a bit more it wont start again. Somebody had told me it might be the distributor cap but you are the experts so help if you could!

4 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

The car will crank and turn over it just wont start. Disconnect a sparkplug wire or two and ground it to the engine while helper cranks engine over -Do you have spark? Do this and comeback

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Monday, February 4th, 2008 AT 2:01 PM

GOALLSTOPPER21

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Hey I was going to go do what you had told me to and remove the spark plug and ground it to the engine to see if there was a spark. Since the weather was warmer (in the mid-upper 50s instead of the 30s). Car started right up. It had also rained earlier in the day and was still very damp out. Thought this might help you have an idea of what this could be. Obviously it sparked cause it started right up. Seems like it could be a cold weather problem? Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appriciated. Could it be something in the fuel line?

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Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 AT 7:26 PM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Do you have a check engine light On or has flashed?

When was it last major tune-up?

Try checking the sparkplug connections at the plugs and distributor cap-also open up the D/Cap inspect its button to include the rotor. Also the coil connections

Also you should consider checking the fuel pressure with a fuel pressure gauge to rule out the fuel filter/pressure regulator and fuel pump

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Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 AT 10:21 PM

GOALLSTOPPER21

MEMBER
3 POSTS

No check engine light has turned on at all in probably the past 6 months. All connections for the plugs are all on securely. I didn't open up the distributor cap or run any tests for the fuel pump or filter. I did however get Iso-HEET and put that into the car thinking it might be a particle in the fuel line or water in the tank. After doing this the car sat for a day or 2 and its now back in the teens with the temp. Started it today and it started right up with the turn of the key. My guess is I got a real bad batch of gas. Thanks for all your help and hopefully I dont have to come back to get any more of your thoughts on this issue. Thanks Again Sam

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Monday, February 11th, 2008 AT 8:45 PM