Important: The following is a text only archive!
For full features; Go to Cant figure this one out.
Okay, I've got a '97 Saturn SC2, DOHC with about ~130k miles on it.
Never had a lick of trouble out of it, but the other day I was driving
along and all of a sudden it just DIED. Didnt sputter out, didnt hickup and
try to run again, just DIED. So I thought "Maybe I stalled it?" I didnt see
how, as I havent stalled a manual in years, and I was actually pulling it
OUT of gear, but whatever, so I try starting it... it wont fire... plenty
of juice in the battery, and plenty of juice getting TO the starter, it'll
sit there and turn over untill your blue in the face, but it wont ever
FIRE... So I'm completly lost now, but I was on my way to work, so I push
it into the nearest parking space and go onto work. Later that day I come
back to it and it cranks right up like usual, so now I'm REALLY weirded
out(How often do cars fix themselves?) alas, on my way home it does the
SAME thing.... the car will run for around ten mnutes or so, then instantly
die without warning, then if you let it sit for around five minuts or so it
will fire right back up. It's not getting abnormally hot, and I cant smell
any hot wires or find ANYTHING wrong... the "Check engine" light doesnt
even come on... I've tried replacing the Ignition Module, and I've had the
coil's tested, and neither seem to be the problem, but when it wont crank
it DOES appear to be getting gas, so it's GOT to be electrical... any idea
to help me out here? Greatly appreciate it in advance. I'm really confused.
jcrobinson
your right that is weird. never heard anything on a car that would do this.
lol i know i would be confused if not scared lol
DARKtEAGLE
if you had the coils tested they were probably cold and thus working. this
doesn't mean they are working when they are hot. check for spark when it
shuts off just to be sure it isn't firing. If it isn't firing, pull out
your ohm meter and test the coil right then, you'll have to find the specs
off autozone.com's repair manuals or something. My guess would be it is
breaking down when it gets hot. If that isn't the problem, good luck.
carls47807
I like carl's idea of checking for spark as soon as the car dies. I would
also check for fuel pressure @ the fuel rail as well. - a little old
fashioned troubleshooting does not hurt.
You might get some clues with a good scantool.
tbaxleyjr
