2003 Saturn l200 crank no start intermittently
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 19
It's always been crank no start when it doesn't want to start. My apologies I thought I had stated that.
Last edited by Outlookxr08; Nov 14, 2025 at 07:35 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 25
From: Full time RV'er
When you try to start it, does it turn over like normal but just won't start, you release the key back to run (not Off) and see the little lock light on the dash blinking? If so, I think that your car is locking you out with the Passlock system. Part of the anti-theft system.
Check that and if that light is blinking, then leave it in P, cycle the key Off/On, leave it on (don't try to start it) and wait 10 minutes. The light goes to solid On after that 10 minutes (with my car it's exactly 10 minutes). Cycle the key back off then try to start. This is the procedure that works for me every time.
I have that happen with my L200 several times a year. Often 2 or 3 times in a row over a couple days than it works fine for weeks before it happens again. There are several Youtube videos about Passlock. This is one exampte
about it. I've not done the fix because I'm retired and seldom need to get anywhere where I can't be 10 minutes late.
Check for that lock light at the center bottom of the dash display.
Check that and if that light is blinking, then leave it in P, cycle the key Off/On, leave it on (don't try to start it) and wait 10 minutes. The light goes to solid On after that 10 minutes (with my car it's exactly 10 minutes). Cycle the key back off then try to start. This is the procedure that works for me every time.
I have that happen with my L200 several times a year. Often 2 or 3 times in a row over a couple days than it works fine for weeks before it happens again. There are several Youtube videos about Passlock. This is one exampte
Check for that lock light at the center bottom of the dash display.
Last edited by Jim@HiTek; Nov 17, 2025 at 10:29 AM.
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Junior Member
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The lock light is not on. Hre's an example of how intermittent this is. The last time I had the car running was on Wednesday it originally would not start at the place that was at I came back 2 hours later it started brought it home try to fire back up when not start crank no start the same day literally minutes after I shut it off I turned it back on and it would not turn back on. I literally have done nothing else to this vehicle and it sat in my driveway since Wednesday and I just went out to try it and it cranked right up.
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 25
From: Full time RV'er
The lock light is not on. Hre's an example of how intermittent this is. The last time I had the car running was on Wednesday it originally would not start at the place that was at I came back 2 hours later it started brought it home try to fire back up when not start crank no start the same day literally minutes after I shut it off I turned it back on and it would not turn back on. I literally have done nothing else to this vehicle and it sat in my driveway since Wednesday and I just went out to try it and it cranked right up.
A non-start issue can have many different very simple causes, and a few can be expensive and the more clues you can give the group the better. For instance, a simple bad starting solenoid can cause a no start but so can a bad fuel pump. And so can a bad battery cable connection. In fact that's the first thing I'd check...the battery cables from the battery posts to the connections to the engine. Positive and ground, both should be checked.
Thread Starter
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Junior Member
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 19
More clues would help. What is happening when it won't start? Does the engine turn over but it doesn't start? Or does it click and not start, or do the dash lights dim when you try to start? Or is it dead silent? What's the ambient temp where you are?
A non-start issue can have many different very simple causes, and a few can be expensive and the more clues you can give the group the better. For instance, a simple bad starting solenoid can cause a no start but so can a bad fuel pump. And so can a bad battery cable connection. In fact that's the first thing I'd check...the battery cables from the battery posts to the connections to the engine. Positive and ground, both should be checked.
A non-start issue can have many different very simple causes, and a few can be expensive and the more clues you can give the group the better. For instance, a simple bad starting solenoid can cause a no start but so can a bad fuel pump. And so can a bad battery cable connection. In fact that's the first thing I'd check...the battery cables from the battery posts to the connections to the engine. Positive and ground, both should be checked.