2001 sl2

low compression across all cylinders?? did the timing chain skip if so how can I tell.....

I would expect you would need to remove the cam cover. Then you can see the little marks on the cam sprocket (or cam sprockets), and compare where they are, when the crank pulley is positioned @ tdc. You would need either a Manual (Chilton or Haynes would have this info), or have the luck for someone to answer here who knows it.

low compression across all cylinders?? did the timing chain skip if so how can I tell.....

saturn engines are interference engines. if your timing chain skipped your valves would be hitting the cylinders and you would be seeing ALOT of smoke, if you car was even able to run. since you did not mention that, i dont think thats it.

numbers would be helpful. compression numbers are relative to each other, however a good saturn engine should be near 180.

when doing the test, do a dry and then a wet test and post both data samples. a wet test is when you squirt a small amount of oil down the lowest cylinder reading and test the compression again. dry test is just a straigt forward compression test

Did you measure the compression yourself, or did someone else do it? I take all the plugs out, and I use a compression gauge with a flexible hose, that threads into the spark plug hole. Then I crank the engine until I the gauge has about stopped rising. This takes 5 or 6 'pulses' of compression - which I can hear by the change in the whirrr of the starter. That would be 12 turns of the crankshaft.

I had the same problem on mine. I started it and it fired up for about 1 second and died. I went to start it and it sounded like there was no compression. Turns out the motor was about 2 quarts low on oil. All I did was add the oil and when I went to start it I held the gas pedal down and it started, rough of course until you get the gas cleaned out but it runs fine after that. I had no idea I was burning oil. I will watch the oil closely now. Hopes this helps you out.:grinyes: