97 sl2 intermittant won't start

[liisa]

please help!

nearly a month ago, my used (2 prev owners) 97 sl2 wouldn't start one morning. it was rainy. (by "won't start" i mean it does what i call "turning over" --definitely more than a click--but it's as if the engine doesn't CATCH and STAY on. it does make the vvv-vvv-vvv engine noise.) i had had one problem with it not starting a week or so before that, on a dry sunny day, but ultimately i got it started and it was fine that first time, and i had never had ANY problems before and had none again til the rainy morning it wouldn't start after a billion tries. so i got it towed, was told that there was no spark even with new plugs and i needed my ignition module replaced, plunked down $500 and was golden--for a week. then it wouldn't start again. the shop i went to AGAIN replaced tthe ignition module at no charge, and gave me a loaner car even (i'm a student at 2 diff. colleges and work two jobs so i am utterly dependent on my baby). got it back on a wednesday. the next monday--again rainy, after driving on and off all day, it wouldn't start AGAIN. about 4 hours later i go back to my car, and it will start. at this point i'm frustrated as all hell, take it to the saturn dealer and get charged $75 for labor when they kept it for 3 days and it started the whole time. that was last week. then again this morning--not rainy but very very humid--(right before a final exam!) it wouldn't start again.. after i got a ride to class and back to my car--less than 2 hours--it started on the second try.

anyways i am sick of working with all these people, i am a young woman and i am ignorant in car issues and feel like no matter where i go, they can't help me bc they're either trying to screw me or they're dependent on their computers and don't really know anything about cars w/o the damn computers.

so i read about the fuel issues with the 97 models and i'm going to try keeping the key in or whatever a bit before starting, but the place i went to originally knows i'm really pissed. should i just give them their part back and get my refund? should i bother with the dealership?

thanks for reading such a long post, but it is such a crazy intermittent thing.

~Liisa

[sierrap615]

reference: http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...ighlight=humid

in 97s there is a common problem with fuel pressure at start-up, but it sounds like spark is your problem. i have only heard of two S-series ignition modules that whent bad, one was in a flood, the other a battery exploded and covered it in acid. chances are the coils, spark plug wires, or ignition grounding bolts are have corrosion. check these photos:

http://www.saturnfans.com/photos/sho...p/photo/14673/
http://www.saturnfans.com/photos/sho...p/photo/14669/
http://www.saturnfans.com/photos/sho...p/photo/14677/
http://www.saturnfans.com/photos/sho...p/photo/14680/

other less likey possibltys are a bad CPS or corrosion in the electrical connecter to the ignition module. if all else fails, ask Wolfman, those are his photos.