I unfortuantly not thinking left my SL1 sitting for about a year, planning to use it for my daughters first car. With the price of gas I decided to start using it myself but have found that it will not start and stay running. I cleaned out the debris from the air box and changed the air filter, but when i go to start it it will start real rough and then shut down as if it cant breath. Is there a way i can get the codes to see what is going on without buying one of those fancy readers and what do they mean, or is there someone out there with a suggestion to what my problem could be with solution ideas?

Is the SL1 such a dog to work on that no one works on these any more and can offer some advice or is there just no easy advice to offer?

You haven't indicated that the SES light is on, so I wouldn't worry
about the codes just yet -- plus, the only ones strored will likely be
from the last time the car ran -- so it may be misleading.



Repeated rough starting/running may have logged a Knock Sensor code, but that's kinda intuitive...



I'd worry about getting it running first.



1) Change the oil!!

2) Change the spark plugs.

3) Gas in the tank is almost certainly stale -- drain the tank
and start with fresh fuel. If nothing else add "dry-gas" additive


4) Change the fuel filter.

5) Clean the throttle body -- use throttle body /air intake
cleaner (NOT choke cleaner) -- This should help to deal with the
prospect of a clogged fuel injection system (this is an SL1, so it has
throttle body injection (1"injector") , not multiport (4 injector) fuel
injection.....)



The cleaner is quite combustible so you may find it also acts as
"Starter fluid" but, since the engine is not running on its own, don't
use a ton </span>of the stuff yet-- remember it is probably not all burning -- you don't want to make a bomb......



6) Change PCV valve -- GET THE SATURN PART -- do not use generic.

7) Coolant flush and replace is a good idea too -- once you can get it running......

8) Your battery
may not be holding a charge even thoough the alternator is trying to
charge it. I'll assume you are trying to start the car from a good battery
(from a running vehicle) so this may not be an issue right now but may
emerge as one pretty soon.



Words of Warning: Alot of the seals/gaskets may have dried out
during the car's extended siesta, so don't be surprised if you have
leaks -- keep an eye on this and your engine operating temp once you
get it running.



Report back with progress and hopefully it won't be too long of a journey....





Derf

Thank you, I have already started on a few of those things, I didnt think about changing the fuel filter, I did change out the fuel with new and also added some dry gas into it. After work this week I will continue on from there and let you know.

also the catilitic converter maybe plugged, saturns are known for having cats get plugged up