SL1 cold start problem

Hi,
I have a SL1 with approx 120000 km (72000 miles) on it. Recently, the weather has gone below zero celcius overnight and the car will not start. When I turned the key, I can hear the DC motor turning the engine and nothing else. I notice that if I have the block heater of the car plugged in for as little as 10 minutes, it will start ok. The spark wires and the spark plugs were replaced roughly 2 years ago and the fuel pump was replaced 3 years ago. Aside from that, it was quite trouble free. I have this cold start problem last winter too but only when it is really cold. I can really use some help here to correct this problem.
Thx in advance!.
Nikki

Hi,
I have a SL1 with approx 120000 km (72000 miles) on it. Recently, the weather has gone below zero celcius overnight and the car will not start. When I turned the key, I can hear the DC motor turning the engine and nothing else. I notice that if I have the block heater of the car plugged in for as little as 10 minutes, it will start ok. The spark wires and the spark plugs were replaced roughly 2 years ago and the fuel pump was replaced 3 years ago. Aside from that, it was quite trouble free. I have this cold start problem last winter too but only when it is really cold. I can really use some help here to correct this problem.
Thx in advance!.
Nikki

I should also add that once the car is started in the morning, it will will fine for the rest of the day. It seems that overnight when the temperature dropped below zero, the car will not start the next day without having the block heater plugged in first.

Thx in advance for any suggestions for this problem.

Nikki

seeing as you are in canada, its most likely the battery. many people think that hard starting in excessively cold temps is because the engine and oil is to cold, and eventhough thats a small part of it, the cause is really the battery. batterys don't have as much power cold as when they are warm. many people think that hard starting in excessively cold temps is because the engine and oil is to cold, and eventhough thats a small part of it, the cause is really the battery. depending on the age of the battery, it may need replaced soon. if you want, have a shop do a heavy load test on your battery. the next time you do replace it, you should upgrade the strongest battery( in CCA - Cold Cranking Amps, and in reserve) that will fit in your car. it will cost a little bit more, but you will thank yourself when you need that extra juice. also your battery should have a heat sheild on it, it will help protect the battery a little, but some how they disappear sometimes (like on mine, my new battery last year won't fit inside the heat shield so it sits in my garage)

also, there is a very small chance your ECT is bad, which is common for the S-series saturn(do a search here) but it normally causes problems when the engine is hot not cold. its a $15 piece that was a bad design to begin with, but about in 2001 saturn fixed the design by using a all brass sensor. i recommend any S-series with the old design(resin tipped) even if there are no noticeable problems to replace the ECT with the new design