problem starting my car

Hybrix · #1 09-06-2009, 10:06 PM

ok so about a week ago i bought a 93 saturn sl 5 speed and it was running great until a few days ago.

-i would start my car, the rpms would go high then the engine would die.
-i would start my car and rev it and keep revving it above half an rpm and it would work, then when i stop the engine would die.

i thought the ects was the problem so i replaced it and it still does the same thing. this is getting really frustrating. the problem is that the car won't go into idle.

i dont know much about cars so i need your help.

Airjer_ · #2 09-06-2009, 10:16 PM

any vacuum leaks? Intake gasket maybe?

Hybrix · #3 09-06-2009, 10:17 PM

i dont see any leaks.

ronaldk · #4 09-07-2009, 12:27 AM

is check eng light on ? if so post codes. If you dont have code reader most auto parts stores will read for free.

Hybrix · #5 09-07-2009, 03:00 PM

so me and my dad found out what the problem is, but we dont know what the part is called.

we found out that when we disconnected the part that says connector, the engine stayed on but it was rough.

here's what it looks like when the connector is on.

heres some other views

heres where it is located

Hybrix · #6 09-07-2009, 06:03 PM

ok so i found out that the part is the TPS and i replaced it. After that, the engine started and i as able to drive it down the road for 10 minutes, then the engine died and the car was doing the same thing as last time. dying after stating it up.

Airjer_ · #7 09-07-2009, 06:52 PM

Does the brake pedal feel harder to push right before it dies?

How about unplugging the EGR valve and seeing if that helps?

RC1488 · #8 09-07-2009, 08:25 PM

Your car has two ECTS' Did you replace the one with the two wire connector?

Hybrix · #9 09-07-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RC1488

Your car has two ECTS' Did you replace the one with the two wire connector?

yeah. there was one next to it with 1 wire and i replaced the one with 2 wires.

I'm thinking that it has something to do with the idle air control valve but Im not sure.

Hybrix · #10 09-07-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airjer_

Does the brake pedal feel harder to push right before it dies?

How about unplugging the EGR valve and seeing if that helps?

the brakes was hard to push before all this happened and still is but i thought it just needed to be adjusted.

Airjer_ · #11 09-07-2009, 11:46 PM

I think we either have a vacuum issue or possibly an EGR issue. The hard brake pedal can be caused by either. Or maybe the booster is leaking vacuum which is causing both the hard brake pedal and the lack of idle!

Unplugging the egr will keep vacuum from being applied and if it is closed it should stay closed. If you idle returns than we may be heading in the right direction. You can also tap the top of the EGR with the handle of a screwdriver a couple times to close it if it is stuck open. Sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn't.

Lastley if your going to throw parts at it you might as well bring it in to a shop you have experience with to get it dignosed. This is always cheeper in the long run. You already have two strikes with the TPS and CTS so your behind around $50. A diag will run about $100 +or- depending on where you are.

denisond3 · #12 09-09-2009, 01:11 PM

I like to think on the positive side. You have now replaced a few items that had long since paid for themselves. Now they arent likely to give you any trouble for at least ten more years.

Airjer_ · #13 09-09-2009, 01:43 PM

That depends. If they are low quality aftermarket parts they can give you more problems than if you would have left the original parts alone! Of all the saturns I have owned, repaired, diagnose I can't think of any that have needed a TP Sensor. I'm not saying it couldn't go bad but the likely hood is pretty slim IMO.

saturntech · #14 09-09-2009, 02:39 PM

Sounds like a intake leak to me, spray brake cleans on the top side of the intake while the car is running and see if the idle changes.

Hybrix · #15 09-09-2009, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airjer_

That depends. If they are low quality aftermarket parts they can give you more problems than if you would have left the original parts alone! Of all the saturns I have owned, repaired, diagnose I can't think of any that have needed a TP Sensor. I'm not saying it couldn't go bad but the likely hood is pretty slim IMO.

I actually bought my TPS and ECTS at autozone.
I have a question, what would happen if i just disconnected the TPS and left it disconnected? When i disconnected the TPS, the engine would stay idle and when I connected it, the engine idled for about 10 min, then it would go back to doing the same thing as last time (first post of this thread).

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