A lesson for all of us

Hello Saturn drivers, I learned an expensive lesson, that I need to share. I
had to vacuum out my 95SL2, but had to move it a few feet, as it was out of
reach for the extension cord. I started the car, moved it, and shut it off,
without letting the idle drop down to normal. The next day, the car wouldn't
start, it was for sure flooded. I had to get it towed, to a Saturn dealer,
and had to get the spark plugs replaced (too bad I replaced them a few
months ago), a new crank sensor, and coolant sensor had to be installed, and
it was recommend that the coolant fluid to be placed, as well as the oil (it
was due for an oil change anyway). All this because I started the car for
only a few seconds, and I was thinking at the time, to let the car run for a
bit before shutting it off. An expensive lesson for me.

 

Thanks for sharing - this is (seems) to be the Saturn way.

I want to respectively disagree with you analysis however - the few seconds
of running may have caused a flooded condition (there is mention in your
manual about how to start a flooded Saturn).

The other stuff was wear or service items the techs picked up on when the
car was in shop.

As a rule running the engine for such a brief time in not advised (bad for
the oil, etc, not to mention that alternator hasn't returned the starting
amps back to the battery)...

My 2 cents.

 

I find this interesting.... never heard that starting a car for only a few
seconds was bad for the car. To avoid problems like this what is the
"suggested" shortest driving time one should do?

TIA

Wurm

 

Similarly - anyone try starting but not engage the starter long enough?
I have an 03 ION and sometimes I flick the key too quick, and it doesn't
start. When I crank it again...rrr rrr rr rr rr rrrr rr rrr rrrrrrrrrr
start.
Embarrassing on a new car, but it must flood itself to start quick, and if
you miss the boat, you're... sunk.

-e

 

Hold your foot to the floor and crank. This engages flood clearing
mode, and cleans it out. Then start foot off the gas, as normal.

I rarely have to do this on my Harley, and even rarer on the Saturn, but
it does the trick. 99% of the time, the car starts on the first shot,
the bike will fire right away over if you do everything right, which I'm
still trying to figure out after having the thing 4 years...

 

On my 97 SL2 to clear a flooded condition (rare for me too) you simply hold
the throttle to the floor while cranking for 5-10 seconds then let your foot
off (actually any position other than full) and it will fire right up. No
need to initiate a second startup sequence.

 

I don't know - I have moved it in the driveway and then let it run for a few
minutes before shutting it down. I at least like to see the temp gauge move
a little... I try to avoid short run times when possible.

 

Sounds as if the dealer used the shot-gun approach. I've heard that a quick
start such as what you did can flood the engine, but the fix is simple:
crank the engine with the pedal held to the floor. The PCM sees the wide
open throttle and shuts off gas, so a flooded condition will work its way
out.

Another common cause of a no-start condition is the crankshaft position
sensor failing. The sensors are relatively cheap (about $20) and it's a
simple 5 minute replacement. Since those have a habit of failing
intermittently, replacing it if you have a crank but no start condition is
not a bad idea.

This is another common cause of a no-start condition. If the coolant sensor
incorrectly lists the engine as being hot when it's actually cold, the PCM
won't give the engine enough gas to start. Those have a bad habit of failing
on Saturns - the original sensors are plastic, the replacement ones are
brass. Replacing them is a good idea.

The 95s use the green coolant that should be replaced every 30-50 thousand
miles or so. I suspect this wasn't a bad call - good preventative
maintenance.

Good maintenance on a Saturn (or any other car).

Actually, you're getting off reasonably easy. It failed at your home
(instead of somewhere far more inconveniet).

The dealer, in the absence of knowing exactly what failed at the time of
no-start, replaced the things that commonly go. Plugs, they probably didn't
need changing (if you replaced them recently). The temp sensor was a good
idea - the original ones are crappy and will go sooner or later. The crank
sensor was maybe bad, or maybe not. This was replaced as insurance.

Coolant? Clearly unrelated, but good maintenance. Ditto on the oil change.

 

The lesson to be learned is not about short runs but about avoiding the
dealer.

My saturn was showing 'service engine soon' so I asked the dealer. He
wanted $75 to read the codes. I went to my local mechanic and he read
the codes for free and told me I needed a new temp sensor. Icame back a
week later (gave him time to get the part) and he installed it for $15
total. The engine idled a lot better.