Saturnhelp

Any codes?Almost sounds like a bad crank shaft position sensor.Pretty common on those cars i have seen them do some pretty strange things.When it stalls and wont start see if you have spark?

Thank you,no codes just tuned it up, have good spark, thanks again, donation next time credit card maxed out.

So when it stalls out and wont start you made sure you have a nice blue spark when this haplens?Because a loss of spark is the most likely cause of whats happening.

Hellow! I never checked it for spark, but when it does start everthing is normal, it drive fine through out the day, no loss of power, Thanks.

Alright you threw me off you said you had good spark on your last post.So next time it stalls and wont start check for spark.Let me know what you find.

Ok thanks I will do that, one more thing how do I check for spark?

Its easy on that car all you have to do is pop off two spark plug wires that are side by side on the coil.Have someone crank the car while you watch for a nice blue spark jumping from coil tower to coil tower.If there is no spark then your down to a ignition control module or a crank sensor.The ignition control modules are expensive on those cars and dont fail often.The crank sensors fail pretty common on those cars and are cheap.You can test the crank shaft sensor when there failing with a multimeter.It should read around 800 ohms when they fail they read as a open.

Hi, I did the test to see if I had spark, I had no spark, one yellowish spark once then nothing after that, now I know what the problem is, thanks a million.

So are you going to test the crank shaft sensor?Or just try replacing it?

I probably just go ahead & replace it, so I can save myself from future headaches.

I wasnt saying drive around with a bad one.I changed mine when i got over 200,000 miles on my 1999 saturn SL2 before it went bad.They usually fail before that i just didnt want to get stranded.I was just asking if you were going to test it before replacing it?Its a pretty cheap guess i wouldnt want to just try a ignition module those are expensive.But i have spare testers of those.

I'm going to have my mechanic to check it he has one of those devices, do you think it's possible that it can be both parts? I will have mechanic to check it he's out of town right now.

If I have to replace the ignition control module should I replace the coils also?

I have never seen the module and crank shaft sensor fail at the same time in my many years working for saturn.Its going to be one or the other most likely the crank shaft sensor.I havent replaced many of the modules but lots of the sensors.I dont really belive telling people to try changing parts but in your case it would be cheaper.I would try changing the crank shaft position sensor even if it wasnt the problem you would still be ahead of the game and it would be cheaper then taking it to a shop for diagnoses and repair.The sensor is only 15 plus tax at auto zone you may be able to get cheaper somewhere else.There easy to change you just raise up the car put it on jack stands.There is a connector to unplug and on 10mm bolt holding it in.Then you can pop it out and pop the new one in its most likely the problem.To answer your question should you replace the coils with the module i wouldnt.The coils dont fail that often your mileage is still pretty low.I replace coils etc like that when they fail.The only reason i replaced my crank shaft position sensor was because my miles were getting up there the sensors cheap and it beats getting towed.

Thank you! I'm going to have the crank shaft sensor tested before I replace anything, one more thing when I tested the car to see if it had spark the car haven't started since.

Did the spark come back after it cooled down?Did you put the wires back on like they came off?

Still no spark, I tested it when the car was cold that's usually when the problems start, when it warms it's fine, but now it wouldn't start at all, I put the wires back on the way they came off, thanks.

Should be easy to find now do you have a multimeter to test the sensor?

I don't have a multimeter I think my brother has one, if not is there any other way possible i can test it?

No you need a multimeter to test the resistance of it.You put it on 2k ohms scale it should read about 800 ohms.When there bad they will usually read as a open no reading.

Ok! Thanks, i'm sure I can find one i'll check around, I think autozone rents those but not sure.

I know they have one for rent in there fuel pump tester etc test kit.

Ok i'll try that, i'll let you know about the test results thanks.

No problem let me know.

Hi, for some reason I can't find a multimeter anywhere, autozone didn't have one neither, but I remember something, the car had a transmission code I read on autozone's website about the ignition control module couple of things it said was when not replaced inconsistent transmission shift points, maybe that explain why I had a transmission code, & the transmission shifts fine.

What is the exact code number you had it will be a P followed by four digits?They dont sell one at auto zone?Do you have a harbor frieght tools by you they sell meters there cheap.

The code is p0731, yes I have a harbor frieght tools near me.

Thats a 1st gear incorrect ratio has nothing to do with the ignition system at all.That means the computer has detected slips in first gear.Do you have a delay or delay bang into reverse?

I don't feel anything everything feels fine.

Most common reason for a transmission code like that is a pressure problem in the transmission or a loose input shaft nut.

Ok, i'm going to have a mechanic to do some work on it tomorrow, hopefully he has a multimeter, i'm going to have him to inspect the transmission also, I'll let you know how eveything goes, thanks.

Alright dont let them make any repairs without talking to me a about it.

He's a certified mechanic & neighbor so he's cool, but thanks for the heads up, if we need more info I'll
contact you, plus I will let you know how thing's whent, thanks again

In my many years of expernice with these cars a lot of people that are even great mechanics dont always come up with the correct diagnoses especially when it comes to the transmissions.So i was offering my help with what he finds but if your good with him then good luck to you.I have had major transmission chains call me and bring customers saturns they just couldnt figure out to the dealer i worked at.

Thanks for your help, since you said that I might just hold off on that right now, i'm driving around my other vehicle at the moment, 1999 chevy monte carlo ls, i'm just going to have to check out my crankshaft sensor & ignition control module.

Mainly the crank shaft sensor thats your most likely cause for the no start.I had a major transmission shop probably the biggest chain you could think of dont want to name names.They rebuilt the entire transmission because it was hard shifting so they brought it to me.Because it was still hard shifting after the rebuild.Took me 20 mins to figure out it had a bad pressure control solenoid which is a in car repair.

I just found out something, I had my neighbor to rescan it & their was no transmission code, I had it scaned at the shop last week because my check engine light was on, it was a bad o2 sensor, I think the guy at the shop gave me a fake code so I can come back for repairs I didn't need, I knew something was wrong because the transmission shifts perfect & smooth.

So was it a code P0133?If so you need a new o2 sensor that screws into the exhaust manifold.You can replace that yourself.

Yes! I fixed it already, the code was p0134.

Thats a uncommon code for that car they usually always set the P0133 when the front o2 sensor goes bad.