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94 saturn Sl2 DOHC giving me fits!
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topside
New User
May 6, 2013, 12:46 PM
Post #1 of 8
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94 saturn Sl2 DOHC giving me fits!
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Hi guys, I'm not a mechanic but this car is making my mechanic crazy. ANY any help appreciated! Here's the deal - it won't start most of the time - engine turns but no start. It's getting spark, it's getting fuel, it's got good compression in all four cylinders but no run. Every once in a while it will start up for a few seconds and idle VERY rough but then it dies again. So far my mechanic has done the following - replaced the heat sensor, checked the fuel pressure (which is fine so the problem is not the fuel pump), checked the injectors for blockages and even for a short, checked the air mass sensor and has even replaced the ECM. The diagnostic port is showing NO ERROR CODES. He is about to give up on this car. Same problem continues. ANY suggestions? ALL HELP APPRECIATED!
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 6, 2013, 1:05 PM
Post #3 of 8
(1966 views)
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Re: 94 saturn Sl2 DOHC giving me fits!
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?? YOUR mechanic is asking YOU to figure it out! I take this the sometimes it starts and plain runs fine after that ever or just stays running rough? No surprise as it could be flooding out so even plugs can get spark and not work right after multiple tries such that the spark is grounding inside the plug but no actual spark to fire properly or sometimes at all. Somewhat rare but happens.
An engine needs, spark, fuel, compression and on time and should at least react so one is missing. Fuel pressure is not conclusive that fuel gets delivered. He should know to check the injectors pulse and do open to deliver fuel. If that was the case it would run for a few seconds priming throttle body.
You mechanic is right there and we aren't so the mechanic has the advantage already. OK - He should get the help if this is fooling him with something. If not you plain need another mechanic to check this out before you wreck it from trying assorted things as in just parts tossing till you hit on something which is not the way a mechanic should be working. Find another if he's giving up anyway,
T
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topside
New User
May 6, 2013, 2:55 PM
Post #4 of 8
(1932 views)
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Re: 94 saturn Sl2 DOHC giving me fits!
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Hi Tom, Thanks for responding. The car never really runs fine - it will sometimes start weakly and idle extremely rough, then die again within 30 seconds or so. Most of the times you try it, it won't start at all. Putting it in gear and trying to drive it during these periods of rough idle causes it to die immediately.
No my mechanic isn't asking me to figure it out - he's basically giving up. He is, in his words, "not a Saturn guy" and is actually the service mechanic at the used car place I bought this thing from six months ago so I have no real idea as to his true level of competence.
The car actually ran fine for some time, then started doing this suddenly - this is not a problem that developed over time.
Any other suggestions? I am so upset with this mechanic I do want to take it somewhere else but I don't want to just tow it to the next mechanic shop down the road without having at least some clue as to what is wrong. He has tried the obvious stuff and replaced quite a few parts but no results, and I'm not willing to continue paying at some new shop for another person to start all over at square one. Knowledge is power and I want as much advantage as I can get, so if you have any suggestions or other questions, they are VERY welcome.
Thanks again for your assistance.
(This post was edited by topside on May 6, 2013, 2:56 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 6, 2013, 3:33 PM
Post #5 of 8
(1919 views)
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Re: 94 saturn Sl2 DOHC giving me fits!
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As HT ( a master certified tech here for a long time) just said if nothing is present when checking you are screwed to be sure without some better clues. It should at least be bucking and pharting with what you said was observed and it can't have all that and not react, something is missing on the basics list or it would be running. Perhaps not well but it's not even close yet as I read this. It's not whether it's a Saturn or not with the info from first post that's primal to any make engine. What is missing when this does this?
I know it get pricey to tow it around but you don't seem to be getting anywhere where it is now. If YOU go anywhere and tell them what to do based on any web site and that isn't the problem that's YOUR fault. Tell techs the problem and let them diagnose it out. Certainly good to have a clue as much as you can about what it could be.
Some things that can fool even techs are the distributor (this has one I'm near sure) shears a roll pin on the gear and may still turn but spark is too for off to run well or at all. The soaked plugs as already said but he should see them soaked then.
I'm lost as to what to suggest you should do. This mechanic should be seeking help from another mechanic if this is troublesome,
T
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topside
New User
May 8, 2013, 12:13 PM
Post #6 of 8
(1869 views)
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Re: 94 saturn Sl2 DOHC giving me fits!
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Hi Tom,
I don't think this one has a distributor as such because it's full electronic ignition with an ECM - the plug wires run from something that just looks like a terminal block on the side of the engine, not a real distributor as such.
Anyway THANK YOU for your advice! As of this morning, Ive had the car towed out of that shop and up the road to the Chevy dealer. I know it will be more expensive but at this point I just want a definitive diagnosis by someone I can be reasonably assured is competent and has seen a Saturn once or twice before. Stay tuned, I'll let you know what they come up with.
Thanks again,
JR
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HT
User
May 8, 2013, 12:29 PM
Post #7 of 8
(1866 views)
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Re: 94 saturn Sl2 DOHC giving me fits!
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Those are coils. It's a DIS (Direct Ignition system)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 8, 2013, 12:55 PM
Post #8 of 8
(1860 views)
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Re: 94 saturn Sl2 DOHC giving me fits!
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I apologize topside as I didn't look up if distributor or coil packs or what was used. Can't know them all off the top of my head.
About expensive: If twice the price, getting it done right the first time is the bargain. It's already cost you time, tows and money with no results so chalk this up to learning where to get help for what problems.
HT has tons more access to info than I'll ever have now as done with any work. Good luck getting this back and wouldn't be surprised if in a day and be done with this problem,
Tom
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