1997 Saturn SC1 start for 5min then stall, for 5min. And re

CRPEREZ

MEMBER
1997 SATURN SC1
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
180,000 MILES

Hello. I have a 97 saturn sc1. For three days this has happend. Starts just right, runs and sounds just right, rev it drive it, and its good. Then out of no where it just dies. It doesn't chugg or miss fire, it just dies. Iv checked the fuel pump and its good. Iv changed the fuel filter and switched out the fuel regulator and the map sensor. No change. And every 5 minutes or so I can start it back up and do it again. I won't leave the driveway. Does this sound like an electrical issue and or would it be fairly simple to get at? Please help.

7 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

When it doesn't start do this take two spark plug wire's that are right next to each other off the coil and crank it over and see if spark jump's from tower to tower. Let me know what you find there. Also do you have any code's?

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, October 30th, 2010 AT 9:07 PM

CRPEREZ

MEMBER
8 POSTS

Not that I know about. There is no light indicating there r codes. (Check engine, or service engine) none. But I will try what u say. What would it mean if it did or didn't? Fulty coils?

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Saturday, October 30th, 2010 AT 11:14 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

More likely a faulty crank shaft position sensor just because your light's not on doesn't mean you can't have code's. Go and see if they can pull any code's from your car at a auto part's store like auto zone.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Sunday, October 31st, 2010 AT 1:32 AM

CRPEREZ

MEMBER
8 POSTS

No codes, no spark. Even took just a single wire off to see. And nothing. But I started it when it did start. And sparks were jumping. So if there's no spark when it doesn't start, does that point to the crankshaft sensor like you was thinking? And thanks for you help.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Sunday, October 31st, 2010 AT 2:11 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

The most likely cause for the no start no spark would be the crank shaft sensor there 20. You could also have a bad ignition module which they hardly ever go bad and are over 100. The problem your going to have is the no start only happen''s for 5 min's that's no a whole lot of time to test the crank shaft position sensor. If you could rent a scan tool that read's live engine data then when it doesn't start you could see if it read's rpm's on the engine data while cranking it.