hello all,

I have a a 96 sl2 with 130,xxx miles. And today I went to go start it and no luck. I have changed the battery with one that is brand new and charged. The car does crank and every so often I think it is going to turn over and it just wont. I also hear the fuel pump working. I have also made sure the terminal are fine and connected tight. I have removed the plenum and sprayed starter fluid into the throttle body and it still did not turn. I thought that if I had a frozen fuel line that starter fluid would at least turn it over so I would know that is the problem but no luck. Finally, I removed a spark plug and had my wife start the car so I could verify spark and it does have spark. So I know that it is not the battery, fuel lines, or plugs or the module packs. I also verified that the fuse for the fuel injectors is still good.

So now I am at a loss. Anyone got any ideas I can try?

 

You said the engine does not turn over.

If thats the case
Battery
Battery cables
Starter
Neutral safety switch
Check and test all fuses under the hood and dash,
Seized engine

Spraying starting fluid into the throttle body will not make the engine turn over

 

seized engine??

could it do this from just being out in the cold? I did just drive it the week of dec 7th with no problems and now this.

could it be the starter even if it seems as if it is cranking? Is there a test I can do to verify this? The starter is the only thing I dont know how to rule out and it has a different sound than normal, as if it is strugling with turing the car over

 

So the engine turns over.

Repace the ETCS and connector with one from the Saturn dealer after you check all fuses under the dash and hood.

 

yes the starter is cranking, although it sounds more hesitant kinda like when you are trying to start a car that is very cold in cold weather. and every so often, while cranking, it sounds like it turns once like I am getting combustion in a chamber every now and then.

Now the job of the starter is to create teh initial spark on the plug to get cumbustion, right? cause I am getting spark. I always thought that spark, fuel, and battery is all that is needed to get the car going,I got spark, I have a new battery and the ether should act as my fuel even if it is only temporary till it is burned off and stalls again.

I am sorry if I am sounding confusing, I am trying to be as detailed as possible. unfortunately, I find it hard to explain a sound over the net

 

PM the person that calls himself asaturntech ... he is logged on at the moment.

 

ETCS has been changed long ago.

however, I got it started. The ether seemed to make things not want to start as easy but I kept trying.

I finally figured that my starter might not be good and I just kept pushing the starter and finally, there was a bit of hope as it turned and stalled. So I kept trying andon about the 10th try, a huge amount of smoke poured out the muffler and it finally started up!! It did end up stalling when I took it out of park so I started it again and let it sit for like 20 minutes and run before taking it out.

I have no idea what went wrong or even what fixed it but I am happy. Thanks

 

did you replace the battery with one of same CCA (or higher rating)?

 

Don't be so sure that you fixed it. You just got it started. Sounds like it may have been flooded. A bad ECTS can produce flooded symptoms. If it was replaced long ago with the composite sensor, it may be time to replace it again- this time with the brass sensor.

 

yes battery was replaced with a comparable battery. And the ECTS is brass. It started up fine today for work and made it to work and back with no problems. I wish I knew what was going on