Hey I got a question. I have a 99 sc1 that wont start. here are the symptoms; battery is fine and has a full charge, when I turn the key nothing happens, I tested theclutch switch and that is not the problem either, all fuses are fine. this comes and goes every now and then. I looked it up in my manual and it states that it is probably my starter or solenoid.


Any suggestions????

replace the starter. check all fuses first though.

im having the same problem dude!

starter solenoid is integral to the starter on the s cars -- you must replace the starter to replace the solenoid (unless you want to disasssemble the starter)

calvinpowder -- this is nothing like what you described in today's posts......(??????)

well its kinda the same, its a 99 and it wont start. only diff is mine turns over.

I have a '96 SC2 with the exact same intermittent starting problem. Battery is totally fine, fuses look good, starts most of the time, but every now and then I get in - turn the key - and other than bright dash indicator lights I get absolutely nothing. No clicking, no starter engagement - just dead silence.

The interesting thing is that if I wait 10 - 20 minutes (sometimes less, sometimes longer) it magically heals itself and the car starts like a champ. I cannot tie the events to anything other than pure random misfortune (i.e. it's not weather related, doesn't matter if the engine is hot or cool, etc.). This is driving me crazy and seems to happen at the most inopportune moments. I've conclude it's either a faulty ignition switch, faulty Neutral-Start switch, or defective starter. It's just never misbehaved where I've been able to get under it before it heals itself.


Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Check battery terminal connections. Ensure there is no corrosion build up at the + lead and that the - lead has a solid ground.
Could also be loose + wire at the starter, but magical time-dependent healing doesn't fit with this....

take it to an autozone and have the starter teseted also check to see if the fuel pump is going mayb it just died who knows

before you replace any parts that could be potentally unecessary to replace.. check the starter relay. a relay is essentially a coil of wire, that when energized by electricity pulls a switch over and creates a connection through which high(er) current can flow. if the switch contacts are worn out, or there is no continuity in the relay, there's your problem. (you're going to need a digital volt meter for this). if you can hear a click when you try and start the car, than this most likely is not the problem.


of course you're going to want to check for corrosion, and check to make sure the wiring for the starter is all there.


next, id check the clutch position switch circuit. easiest first: check the clutch position switch for continuity. you may want to get a wiring diagram and look over this circuit. an open, short or bad ground on this circuit wont let the car start.

Fair warning guys... find the problem I have a "no crank issue" right now and it started as an intermittent one! It is driving me insane AND broke. So far I've replaced the ignition switch $135.90, the battery $65.00, removed and cleaned the cables, removed and tested the starter (twice), removed and tested the clutch switch... no reason short of a broken wire for this car not to start. However, broken wires are not intermittent; they are either broken or not broken.


I am beginning to think thatthe Saturn gremlins are p/o'ed at me for failing to wash and wax the car as regularly as I should! However, here's an issue for everyone to look into: Autozone lists and sells a "starter motor relay" GP Sorensen #41-5134. It is about 1.25 inches square, has 5 spade connectors, housed in a gray square box and recessed inside the box low enough (and with sufficient extra sheilding) to make me think it is "weather tight"; finally molded to the ouside of the box,is a slide lock adapter making me think it slips onto a clip mounted somewhere on the frame orfirewall. I called Saturn, they do not list a starter or an ignition relay and I certainly cannot find anything simular to the part anywhere on the car. But the "intermittent" startingof the problem fits with a failing relay... the "no crank" fits with a relay that has finally totally failed.