2004 Vue intermittent gas gauge 0 = no start / Mechanic Phoenix AZ Recommendation
 

Hi Saturn Owners,
I own a 2004 Saturn Vue V6 3.5L Honda engine with 130,000. I love the car but I have a strange intermittent failure to start issue. This is a 2nd car I use as a spare. Only drive it about 5k a year. I tried a local shop - left the car with them for a week but the issue didn't repeat itself. Did this twice with the same shop. Interface diagnostic computer with on board computer, no error codes, tested fuel supply and delivery systems, primary and secondary ignition systems, emission sensor systems - all pass. I need a mechanic that works on Saturns and has seen this issue!
Here's what happens. Car has plenty of gas, turn the key and all accessory lights and checks work properly on the dash except the gas gauge reads empty, crank the engine and will not start. Wait 15-30 minutes and try again. Gas gauge moves and shows correct level, finish turning the key and it starts (if the gas gauge doesn't move, crank it and will not start). This started around July 2024 and maybe has happened 10 times. I went three months with no issue. I recently filled the gas tank and immediately had this issue again, 3 times in the last 3 weeks. Any suggestions for troubleshooting this is appreciated.

Please refer me to a local mechanic or shop in the Phoenix metro area.

J Sam running out of patience

Sounds like an intermittent grounding problem.
The question is where (physically)

When this happens and the engine is warm, what does the coolant temperature gauge do? Don't answer from memory, observe on the next incidence.

The link to the following schematic shows some interconnections between the instrument cluster in the dash and the ECM and BCM. Haven't looked at it long enough to figure out where the problem is / might be, but it's a start, maybe.

It would be nice if you could read the codes while this is actually happening to see if a pending code is set, but that won't work while you are cranking. At least I don't think so. Maybe with the key in run after you crank and it does not start.

Here's the link. I chose two-wheel drive as you did not specify.
see diagram number two
2004 Vue 3.6L 2WD instrument cluster including communications to other modules

Post by grcauto8453

https://iatn.net/repair/


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Replying
 

Thanks- it's a 2WD Vue. It only happens when the car has cooled down. Last time it was sitting in the garage overnight. The problem happens so infrequently I haven't been able to have it tested. I like the observation that a ground wire maybe causing the issue. So frustrating.

Diagram #2
 

Derf
Thanks for sharing the diagram. I was told the gas pump will work even if the gas gauge sensor is not working. Looking at the diagram is that true? If the gauge can prevent the pump from working that could be the failure. Is this all one module in the tank - pump, sensor?

I have the same problem. It drops below zero and won't start. the next day I can lucky and it will. It doesnt matter if it is worm or cold. I can turn it off after driving it and try and start it back up and it won't...I even put about a quart of gas in when it wouldn't start and it started(i got lucky). plenty of fuel in the tank. if needle goes up it starts...if needle goes down it won't start. and I mean down below zero. it actually goes down I need help also.