cranks but will not start...

So when it didn't start did the security light stay on solid or flash?I would check for code's if you have any let me know the exact code number's.So does it drive good now?Your cat would have to be pretty clogged for it not to start.You will have to get a noid light for the injectors next time it won't start plug it in where the injector's go then crank it and see if the light flashes while cranking.

Check out the guide belows... it will help

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-engine-compression

I checked it yesterday and the security light comes on when you first turn the key but it does not flash and the light goes off after about 2 or 3 seconds.

I have a neighbor who brought over the diagnostic machine and hooked it up and it gave a code P1599...but then he told me that his machine only went up to year 1999...so the code that came up was for a 1999 saturn 1.9...so I have no idea if that would be the same code for a 2002.

The car is currently NOT running at all...so I have not had a chance to take it to another place to get codes. About 3 weeks ago I came out of work and the car would not start (it cranked but would not start)...I left the car at my job and approximately 24 hours later, the car started right up. Now it did this again...last week I came out of work and the car started right up...I drove the car to the place where I clock out and turned the car off...when I came back a couple minutes later, it would not start (it cranked but would not start). I once again left the car at the lot and returned approximately 8 hours later and it still would crank but would not start. I had the car towed to my house and it has been there ever since...still cranking but NOT starting.

Code P1599 is a obd2 it's for stall detected just means the car stalled.You should rent a scan tool see what code's you have recheck the fuel pressure get a noid like see if you have injector pulse.Do you have a test light?Also recheck spark we need to see what your missing to run.Let me know what you find.

Thank you so much for your help. I will get to it and let you know!!

Your welcome keep me posted.

would the battery being low cause the scan tool to not read any codes? i went and rented a scan tool from auto zone and hooked it up but it came back "no codes found"...i know my battery is probably drained some from trying to start it over the past week...would that cause the scan tool to not have enough power to pick up codes? i have scanned it a few different times and it just continues to say "no codes found".

If you think the battery is low charge it and have it tested.Have you rechecked the fuel pressure and used a noid light to check for injector pulse and rechecked spark?

my dad says it is getting spark but he and a friend checked and the 1st and 2nd cylinder have no compression. The friend says that means the timing chain is bad??

What is the compression on number 3 and 4?

could be body control module there popular for these problems and the code reader wont work

Hello aunt they said there were no codes in the computer not that they couldnt talk to the computer with a scan tool.Also i would like to know how a bad bcm can cause no compression on cyls 1 and 2 like they were saying was happening?Because that would be a first in all my years of being a saturn factory trained tech.

yesterday when my husband took the car to work, it started up and ran just fine, ran to the loan company, again started up and ran just fine, came home so i could go to work, it started up and ran just fine, i stopped at the stop sign leaving our apartment complex, it died. i tried to restart and it cranks and won't start. we pushed it to a parking spot, and i try to start it with the gas pedal pressed to the floor, it turns over but won't catch. i had a mechanic come out and look at it, we changed the coil pack and the module, one at a time and then eventually changed the spark plugs, still will turn over but won't start. he says that he can hear the fuel pump engaging so he says we're getting fuel, and we're getting spark, and we're getting air, but the car just won't start, and he has no idea what's going on.

Do a compression test sounds like your timing chain may have broken its not uncommon on those cars that year.Sounds like the guy working on your car is throwing parts at it.Let me know what the compression tests results are.

Never had any problems before today. Went out to start my car this morning and it would crank but not actaully start the engine. While checking the battery nothing looked bad, good connection no corrision or anything. Did notice that it was showing out of oil. Could that be the problem? If so, what damage could it have caused and how could it be fixed?

Dianne

It's probably not out of oil it's just low first thing I would do is put some oil in till it read's full.Also is the security light on or flashing?Can you go rent a code reader from auto zone and see if you have any code's.

We put oil in first thing then we detached the battery for about 15 min and re-attahced and now it starts.

I will see if we can rent the code meter to see if anything comes up.

Thank you,
Dianne

My 2002 Saturn L200 just wouldn't start one day. Changed all four spark plugs, the fuel filter, oil, and put more gas in it. Still won't start. Threw out only one code, which had something to do with emission (the guy at auto zone said that it meant my gas cap was loose). I turned the cap until I heard it click. I just bought a crankshaft sensor, but I'm scared that it's still not going to fix the problem. I am SO FRUSTRATED - PLEASE HELP!!

Lets start with the basics does the car have spark?

My car will not start. Sometimes i can drive it to the store come out and the car will turn over no problems. all the lights etc. work fine the car will just not fire. The fuel pump seems to be working fine. I don't beleive it is a spark issues duw to the low miles. Could thsi be cause by a fuel pressure regulator?

i would first double check the spark issue first. a fuel pressure regulaor could cause this but you should be able to start it by holding the gas pedal to the floor.

When I turn the key, to start the car it just cranks and nothing. The three lights I have on my dash board are: check engine, oil, battery. The Check engine was on there for an O2 senor that I haven't got replaced yet. The oil appears to be a little low, and I've check the battery and I have a full charge. How can I be sure if it is the ignition control module, alternator, or starter, or another issue?

Probably better off with a mechanic. "Just cranks and nothing". What does that mean? I assume you mean the engine cranks but doesn't start and run, but when I make assumptions I'm usually wrong.

There can be more than one diagnostic fault code stored so just because you already know of one for one of the oxygen sensors, they should still be read to see if there's other codes related to the problem.

The oil warning light is for low oil pressure, not level. There won't be any oil pressure if the engine doesn't run so that light had better be on. That is not a clue to this problem.

The generator recharges the battery and runs the car's electrical systems when the engine is running. It has nothing to do with a no-start condition.

You already said the engine cranks so why would you be questioning the starter?

Start by having the codes read to see if there's anything related to the problem you're having. Keep in mind those codes never say to replace parts. They only indicate the circuit or system that needs further diagnosis. It is often more cost-effective to visit a mechanic, especially for those of us who install numerous parts to try to solve a problem.

Just to add to this one does the gas gauge work fuel gauge work power door locks keyless entry work etc if you have thlse options?Also the security light on solid or flashing?I would also check for codes like cardiodoc said.Those cars have a high failure rate on there body control modules causing no starts.You could could also check for spark i have seen some bad crank sensors on those.

Thanks saturntech9. One thing I forgot to mention is all fault codes on all car brands have a list of things that must be met to set that code and one of those things is almost always that certain other codes are not already set. The Engine Computer compares sensor readings and operating conditions to each other to figure out when one of them is wrong. If there's a code set already, the computer knows it can't trust certain sensor readings so it won't run tests on other circuits that use the defective readings to compare to. That means you could get a code related to this problem only after you fix the cause of the oxygen sensor code and erase it.

After get a test code I Got P0300. I replaced all my spark plugs, and it still not firing up. I had the battery tested and charge when I got the spark plugs. Any other suggestions???

You never answered the questions i asked you in my last post?Also have you checked for spark yet?

Sometimes my L200 cranks but won't start. Usually the "security" and/or "service" light(s) will be on. Sometimes if you take the key out, and wait 10 minutes & try again it will start fine. Sometimes you have to wait a day for it to start. Each time I've had a problem I took the car to Saturn of Vancouver. 1st they told me it was the ignition module so I had that replaced. The 2nd time I took it in they said it was the catalytic converter so I had it replaced. The 3rd time I took it in they said it was a body control module, so I had it replaced. Now it's doing it again. I'm starting to wonder if I'm paying to have things replaced that were not broken. Saturn said if it's a bad BCM they won't charge me, but if it's something else they I'll have to pay. Does this problem sound consistent with their solutions?

I gather repair 1 & 2 did nothing and repair 3 the BCM did for sometime ? So they will replace the BCM no charge ? If I have the facts correct then let them replace BCM. Which would have been a better repair # 1
Hope this helps

The problem is sporatic, so it appeared #1, #2 and #3 all worked for a day or two. The BCM was just replaced last week. The next day we started getting the security and engine lights again. Last night it wouldn't start. This morning it started. I'm not sure if the BCM really fixed anything or not. Saturn said maybe it's faulty. I am taking it in tomorrow for a diagnostic test. They wanted to charge me $96 if it turns out it's not related to the BCM but I said "no" so they are doing for free.

We have a 2001 L200 that has been having the EXACT same problems. We have had all of the same things fixed to no avail (ignition twice, BCM twice, and catalytic convertor). We finally gave it a shot and had an after market starter removed and didn't have any problems for almost a year.

About two weeks ago, it started happening again. Security and/or service lights come on. Cranks but doesn't start. I'm hearing typing this because it's doing it again! It has done this at least once a day for the last 4 days. I wish I could find a warning signal to know if the car is about to do this.

An added thing we've noticed this time around is that the "trunk open" light won't go off, so we can't use our key fob to lock the car doors. This is a new symptom.

If you find any help, PLEASE post it here and let me know.

I drove home from work last night with no indications of any problems. Parked my car in my garage and when I went to start it this morning it will not turn the engine over. All the electrical items, windows, radio, lights, work so it is not the battery. The engiine seems to vibrate to when I turn the key in the ignition.

The amperage to work the lights ect. is small comepared to the 175 to 225 amps needed to start the car. Get someone to jump start if it fires have batt and alt checked.
Good luck

(2002 –Saturn-- l200 –) I have been having starting problems lately. When I go to start the car it doesn’t start over. I have power, headlights come on (headlights are auto). I have tried to turn the starter over but I just get a chuga, chuga sound, let it sit five or ten minutes. Then it will turn right over and start. I have had the starter replaced, and alternator tested along with the battery. I also hear the fuel pump engage before starting. Once start the car I have not had any problems with it running. Any suggestions?

Not Happy, IA

So it will turn over and not start first thing in the morning? or it doesnt turn over? your post confused me on what is happening.If it turns andwont start, have the fuel pressure tested, could bea pump bleeding down pressure overnight and it takes it a litte bit to build it back up.

It basicy will either start and turn over running or won't start at all.

If it starts it will usally start again after I turn it off. If it doesn't start it won't start after trying again for sometime. It usally happens on and off.


I had my starter replace (it was bad) and my alernator and battery tested.

Doesn't the fuel get pressured went the fuel pump turns on before the eninge starts?

only ideas so far are: anti-theft system (passlock) security system and fuel pressure relay

One more time. when you say "wont start" do you mean wont crank, or wont actually start.? If the pump bleeds down, it will trap air in the lines and it takes a littel bit of cranking to build the pressure back up and drive the air out. Does the security light blink when it wont start?

I think he is having the same issue as mine.. My car will crank over everything is normal.. The security light does blink but the car will not fire. If I wait ten minutes the car will start fine. this can happen sitting overnight to go to the store and sitting for 5 minutes.

Have you done a relearn on the pass-key?
GM PASS LOCK RELEARN- Ignition to "run" position, try to start and let key return to "run" position
Approx ten minutes security light will go off
Turn key "off" and wait 5 seconds
Repeat 2 more times for a total of 3 relearns.
Turn key off, then start it
I'm pretty sur this is Jack's advice on this one?

This is my daughters car. When trying to start car it cranks but doesn't fire. It did fire a couple of times but wouldn't fire up completely. Checked fuel pressure and that's good. Checked spark and had that. Changed out cam sensor no change. Changed spark plugs. Thinking ignition coil pack?

Swapped ignition/coil pack with another car, still no good. Also tried unplugging mass air flow sensor