1997 SL1 Won't start when below 30

[Dbrentonbuck]

I have a 97 SL1 with about 140,000 miles on it. About two weeks ago I went to crank it up in the morning and it wouldn't start. I could hear the fuel pump come on, the car turned over (didn't seem like a battery issue), but it just wouldn't fire up. You could hear it trying to fire up, but it just wouldn't. It was around 20 degrees outside. I fought with it on and off for about 20 minutes and it finally started up. I let it warm up for about 30 minutes and it was fine. It was fine for 2 weeks.

Then last Friday I arrived at work at 8:30 am and went to get in my car at 1:30 pm and it would start, but it would immediately shut off. If I held my foot slightly on the gas it would stay running. As soon as I took my foot off of the gas it died. So I sat out there with my foot on the gas for 10 minutes and then it stayed on when I took my foot off the gas. It died once more pulling out of the parking lot, but it started back up and it has been fine all weekend. Friday it was also about 20 degrees. It warmed up Saturday and Sunday to the 40s here and the car has started fine all weekend. The temperature could just be coincidence.

I looked at my plugs and wires and they seem fine. Any ideas? Thanks for your help.

[RC1488]

The '97 year has a fualty check valve. Put the Key in the RUN position for 2 seconds until you hear the humm stop. then start the car.

Also, it has happened that the functions of the Crankshaft Position Sensor are temperature dependent AT TIMES. Extreme differences in temperature (cold/hot) has lead to a non working CPS on some s-series. During a no start, check for spark at the coil towers. I have posted a video on how to for this in earlier threads.

A faulty CPS has no warning. It will work on minute and fail the next.

[RC1488]

Also replace the ECTS. A fualty ECTS will give a rich mixture and give a no start situation. You should change yours anyway as im sure its cracked.

Do this FIRST ASAP.

Again i have posted a video for this in earlier threads.

[Dbrentonbuck]

Thanks, I am going to replace both sensors and see what happens