2002 Saturn SC1, no start issue

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Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
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My girlfriend's car no longer starts. She drove it less than 12 hours before we found it wouldn't start. It has 200k miles on it.

I swapped the battery without even looking at the car because at her last oil change they told her the battery was low on electrolyte and as far as she can remember, it's the original battery. That didn't do the trick. So here's the facts so far...

Car won't start
Battery is good
Car has gas in the tank
I pulled a spark plug and had her crank it, saw no spark with the plug grounded on the exhaust manifold
I pulled another plug from a different coil pack and tried the same, saw no spark
Engine seems to be getting fuel - I smell raw fuel when cranking with a plug out, but the plugs were not wet when I removed them
I checked all the fuses, none are blown (unless there's an inline fuse somewhere)
I tapped the relays in case one was stuck

Haven't had any luck so far. I've seen a few things on the Internet about clogged fuel filters with these cars, but that doesn't seem to be it since I smell raw gas when cranking with a plug removed. I'm guessing there's an ignition module that sits between the coil packs and the BCM, but I'm not sure how I'd test that short of buying a new one. I also read something on the Internet about the crank position sensor being a potential problem.

So I've got a few things to investigate with the fuel filter, crank position sensor, ignition module and BCM but I'm not sure where I should start. I may just go get a Haynes manual or something and go through their troubleshooting steps unless someone here has some ideas.
 

msmy300z

Member
Sep 21, 2007
31
0
66
Had a similar problem with our 02 Saturn SL2 where it wouldn't start after sitting for a few days. It would turn over but never catch and start. Same raw gas but I believe we always had spark... Tried everything and finally figured out that I had to floor the throttle and turn it over until it started (closes the injectors to burn off raw fuel). I can't remember why but I was lead to believe that the a faulty ETCS had something to do with it at the time.. Apparently the original sensor was junk and has an updated design? sorry, I hope something here helps...
 

waffleironhead

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2005
6,997
499
136
Had a similar problem with our 02 Saturn SL2 where it wouldn't start after sitting for a few days. It would turn over but never catch and start. Same raw gas but I believe we always had spark... Tried everything and finally figured out that I had to floor the throttle and turn it over until it started (closes the injectors to burn off raw fuel). I can't remember why but I was lead to believe that the a faulty ETCS had something to do with it at the time.. Apparently the original sensor was junk and has an updated design? sorry, I hope something here helps...

The ECTS is a known problem with these cars, but the fact that he isnt getting any spark is more of an issue at this point. If the car was starting then stalling, then i'd try the ects.
 

Zargon

Lifer
Nov 3, 2009
12,218
2
76
the coolant temp sensor has a role in starting properly, I had to replace mine at one point, to make it stop just 'trying to start' but never really firing
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
Thanks guys, those videos demonstrate the exact kind of tests I want to do to avoid buying unnecessary parts. It's raining today but we'll see how this goes tomorrow.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Coil packs go out in these...you will want to follow those videos to find where you are losing the 12V power. If you have volts at the coils but not after that is a good sign.
 

Jeff7181

Lifer
Aug 21, 2002
18,368
11
81
It was the CPS. Replaced it and it's running again. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, guys.
 

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
CPS is so common.
Had a spare in a box in my Saturn days. Now that I just sold off my last Saturn I gave away the new CPS too.
 
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