'96 SL2 Starting Problems

[rae93]

I am having a problem with my car starting once it has had a chance to warm up. As long as it is cold (ex: first thing in the morning) it will start just fine, but if it warms up, it will not restart for about an hour or so (the engine doesn't turn over, just clicks once) unless I pop the clutch. Once I get it started again it runs fine, there is no rough idle, doesn't hesitate. It has a new battery and alternator (within the past year), and the car still has dome lights, radio, dash lights, etc when this happens. I originally thought it was the starter, and we replaced that this evening, but found that wasn't it either. Any suggestions? Please help...

[peppermrj]

Check your grounds.

[rae93]

At this point the car is at the mechanic, I checked every obvious reason I could think of, and had no results. It's been at the mechanic's since Friday afternoon, and the last I talked to them, they hadn't gotten very far with it. All they know is that it's in the wiring, probably in the ignition somewhere. They're trying to track it down. Thankfully I trust my mechanic, most in town try to pull the wool over my eyes since I am a woman and they don't think I know anything. I am hoping it will be done on Monday but I'm not counting on it.

[peppermrj]

Good luck with the saturn. It is great to have a decent mechanic wether you are either sex. Let us know how it turns out.

[sierrap615]

it sound like the starter too me, the old trick was to tap the starter with a hammer if something like this happen, unforturently, the saturn start is not in a great place to get at. as the starter heats up, the electrical contacts expand and don't make a good contact until it cools down again.