1999 Other Saturn Models Gauge needles go haywire/car won't

1999 SATURN
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DMGENTZ
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1999 Other Saturn Models 4 cyl Automatic 102000 miles
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For the past year or so, I have had problems with my car starting. Then battery is fully charged, but sometimes when I go to start the car, it is completely dead. Sometimes if I wait a few minutes. it will start up totally fine, although my radio presets are always gone. The other problem that seems to coincide with this is that the needles on all of my guages go haywire. They flutter down to zero and shoot back up. My temperature light also flashes for the first 10 minutes or so of driving, even though I have plenty of coolant. I've taken it to a couple of mechanics and they haven't been able to figure out what's causing the problems. Do you have any ideas? Thanks for any info.

Deanna Gentz
Apr 16, 2008 at 6:39 PM
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On the temperature light, check the coolant temperature sensor for the computer. IF it is cracked (common) there will be a variety of odd problems.

As far as the gauges and the battery, I would start checking to make sure the grounds are good. At the negative terminal end (at the connection where the negative cable grounds out to at the opposite end of the the cable from the batttery). They must be clean and tight. How old is the battery?

Make sure the cable is not corodded at all.
Apr 17, 2008 at 5:57 AM