2000 SL2 Startup Problem

[b_spain]

About 36 hours after running the 2000 SL2 (65k mi), I tried to start it up on a cold (25 F) degree morning. We store the car outside our apartment complex. The engine sounded like it was turning, but wouldn't run. I figured it was a battery problem; not having a tester, I just took out the battery and brought it to Advance Auto. AA could not even read the charge on the battery, so I bought a new one and installed it. Still no start. This time, I checked the engine lights and three were lit: "Engine Service Soon"; "Oil Pressure"; and "Battery". That combination was news to me. We had a regular oil change a month ago, so I checked the oil and it still is full and fairly clean.

I'm going to get dry gas tonight, put the pedal to the floor, then put the key into RUN for 10 seconds. If there is moisture in the tank / lines, this should solve it, right? Will it matter that, when I do this, the car will still be below freezing (our cold snap isn't ending until this weekend)? Also, I will buy some Synthetic Oil and mix it with what already is in the system -- I hear that it's good to use synthetic oil in cold winters.

I'd like to do as much as I can without getting towed: hence, I cannot get a reading for the Service Soon light. Or is it possible to read the sensor at our driveway?

My main concern is that, although similar problems have been described on the boards, no one has mentioned which dashboard lights were lit. I know to be extra careful when the Oil Pressure light is on, so is an early-winter freeze in the fuel line consistent with having those three lights on simultaneously?

Thanks!

-- B

[HAWG]

those lights will illuminate when you turn the key on. You say the car will not start, so dont worry about them being lit until the engine is running. Check to make sure you are getting spark. If you are check to make sure you are getting fuel.

[b_spain]

To check if I'm getting a spark: I read that I should remove spark plugs #1 and 4 (passenger side) and look for a spark when turning the key, right?

Thank-you.

I should add: when the key is turned on but the engine, obviously, is not running, those lights remain illuminated even after all the other lights go off.

UPDATE: my wife revealed tonight that she ran the car for all of 10 seconds the night before it stopped starting. She has done this once before, and we brought it to a friend who said that the engine had been flooded, which he then cleared for us.

I tried to clear the possible flood tonight (still below freezing) by pressing the pedal to the floor. I heard a loud pop, but the car still won't start.

[HAWG]

hold the pedal to the floor and crank engine for about thirty seconds. then take your foot of the gas and crank to see if it will start

[saturnspeed_12]

Originally Posted by HAWG

hold the pedal to the floor and crank engine for about thirty seconds. then take your foot of the gas and crank to see if it will start

no no, very bad. never crank a car more then 10 seconds. you will overheat the starter very quickly.

ok you said when you tried to start it one time and it popped? that pop was probably a backfire. im going to say maybe a coolant temperature sensor and/or crank position sensor. what you need to do is check for spark, remove wire and plug and stick plug back in wire to check(easier at night) it should spark every once in a while. never ground the spark to the car! you may get away with no damage, but it can cause damage to complete ignition system including pcm. also if you could check fuel pressure by removing the cap on the fuel line near the fuel rail, under intake, press the valve in and see if fuel shoots out. if it shoots out then fuel probably isnt your problem. the coolant temperature sensor is another little thing that causes saturn to run like crap and not start.

[b_spain]

Thanks; I'll try that in a night or two -- it is just too cold to work outside for extended periods of time right now (in Maryland, it's been in the low 20s and teens during the nights this week).

[saturnspeed_12]

i know how it is. im in ohio, just south of cleveland. luckily i got a garage, not heated, but im going to get a kerosene heater out there. and this weekend i get to have fun outside putting injectors and setting up the fuel system on an eclipse so it will have plenty of fuel for the turbo.

[b_spain]

Well, it started on Saturday (above 40 degrees). I'm pretty sure we flooded the engine before the deep freeze, and the pedal-to-the-floor manuever took care of it. We drove it for 30 min, and it has been fine since.

I've got a few bottles of dry gas we'll use to make sure the line stays dry, too. Thanks for all your advice.