2000 Saturn SL1 FINICKY WHEN STARTING

Tiny
CLARITYBURKE
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 SATURN SL1
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
My saturn wants to die when I start it unless I step on the gas. After revving for a few minutes the car finally starts, and a big cloud of white smoke comes out. If I try to start it throughout the day after driving for awhile it starts up fine, but it always gives me trouble starting if the car isn't "warmed up". I live in southern Cali. So I doubt this is a weather related problem.
Thursday, February 18th, 2010 AT 11:47 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
MATHIASO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,209 POSTS
Hello clarityburke

Check the coolant level and report to me.
I want to make sure coolant is not leaking pass the head gasket and causing hard starting problem.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, February 19th, 2010 AT 1:14 AM
Tiny
CLARITYBURKE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
My coolant is not leaking. I recently had the water pump replaced to solve a coolant leak issue. Notably, when the coolant was leaking I never had any starting issues.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 AT 5:15 PM
Tiny
CLARITYBURKE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Yesterday when I put the car in reverse it died, in addition to all the initial starting problems I mentioned previously. This has never happened before, and I'm worried thing are getting worse.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 AT 5:19 PM
Tiny
MATHIASO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,209 POSTS
Hello clarityburke

The problem may be "NO FUEL, NO SPARK or NO COMPRESSION"
Let start with the "no fuel" condition.
Remove the air inlet tube from the throttle body, push the throttle open and spray a small amount of aerosol starting fluid into the engine. Crank the engine. IF it has spark and compression but NO FUEL, it will start and run a few seconds before dying. If it does NOT start, it probably a NO SPARK problem.
Report to me what you find. Report to me if there is engine light.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, February 22nd, 2010 AT 11:22 PM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Engine Stall While Driving Content

Is it Safe to Drive Check Engine Light?
VIDEO
Is it Safe to Drive Check Engine Light?
Instructional repair video
Engine Stalls While Driving
GUIDE
Engine Stalls While Driving
An engine that stalls while driving and then starts back up again, either immediately or after a short time is different from an engine that just wont start or if the...
VIEW MORE