Me and my saturns

[lanxer57]

I switched the stupid aftermarket wheels for the stock ones I had, the giant things seem to have been rubbing. I really do believe those wheels impaired the function of this saturn.

[lanxer57]

I got the engine out of the 2001. We pushed it into the garage with a pickup truck, and pulled the engine and transmission out intact. the CV axels also came out intact, but I had trouble putting the suspension back together, the ball joints spun freely with the impact wrench, and it was never going to drive again, so I left them loose. I also put the aftermarket wheels on it, and they look better on the mostly bare frame than on a complete saturn. When we rolled it onto the street with some help from gravity, I turned the steering wheel, and it steered fine, but the giant wheels rubbed on it. Dad did not let me take everything, I had to leave some things on it: Anything related to steering, suspension, and brakes, including the still intact subframe, and parking brake lever (The part that I needed most), and excluding the steering pump on the engine, any glass that was not attached to a door or sunroof, the various switches on the steering column (I could not figure out how to remove them), the interior wiring harness, a pad lining the firewall, and the gas tank, and fuel lines... possibly with almost $50 worth of fuel in there.

[lanxer57]

P0301: cylinder 1 misfire
I have sprayed throttle body cleaner on the intake manifold, no effect.
I changed the spark plugs and wires, no effect.
I actually cleaned the throttle body, no effect.
I cleaned the map sensor, and changed it out, no effect.
I cleaned and switched out the idle air control valve, no effect.
I plugged the hole in the throttle body for the idle air control, killed it instantly.
I then turned it around, backed it into the garage while listening to a loud thumping noise that I assume is the misfire, replaced the thermostat and ECTS, flushed the coolant, put the battery back in, turned the key, and it did not crank! The lights all worked fine, the power windows worked, I heard a quiet whine from the fuel pump, and a relay clicked then I turned the key, but no crank. I tried cleaning the battery terminals, and jump-starting it to no avail. Does the starter not work when wet? I never touched it.

[Gerheardt]

Wow, your issue seems even worse to diagnose than mine. I wish i could help... Well, maybe i can suggest tests/stuff i did on mine.

Apparently to test the crank position sensor, which is linked to ignition and fuel, you can unplug your left ignition coil. If you try to start the car and if a spark is visible between the 2 metallic tips, it's probably ok. You could also consider the ignition module between the transmission case and the ignition coils. It gets dirty there and even though i never experienced a faulty one, it could be something causing misfires i guess, and you didn't mentioned the part.

Otherwise... uh... to do tests you should actually try to make it crank again. You turn the key and nothing happens while the dash is lighting and all? It happened to me once. Even tho my battery poles were clean and tight, i removed and reinstalled the positive and it worked. Maybe it could be the safety switch behind the clutch pedal if manual or corrosion near the position switch if automatic? That selector position switch is somehow linked to that safety feature that doesn't allow you to start if not on park position. Since you moved the car by an exterior force, you had to move the shifter. Maybe it's not perfectly on park? You can look at the ground wire for the selector switch. Mine was oxydised as heck and caused me a lot of issues a long time ago.

[lanxer57]

The coils can be removed separately from the module? I wonder how they come off... Before I read that reply, I replaced the starter with one off the 2001. When testing them with jumper cables, I noticed that the one off the 1999 pulled back after it slowed down, and the starter off the 2001 pulled back before it slowed. Replacing the starter made no difference, but it did start after I pulled the gear selector from park, all the way back and forth a few times. The error code (P0301) came right back as soon as I started it, so the ECTS and thermostat had no effect either. We have a special diagnostic tool at my house that is a tube with a light in it that plugs into the ignition coil, and spark plug wire, lighting up when there is enough current going through, it did for all of them. I think I will try the EGR next.

[lanxer57]

The EGR was dirty, but replacing it with the relatively clean one off the 2001, as well as cleaning it, and the holes as best as I could with throttle body cleaner had no effect (it did take a few tries to start, but I think that was the throttle body cleaner in there).

[Waiex191]

Originally Posted by lanxer57

The coils can be removed separately from the module?

Yes they can

[lanxer57]

I looked at the prices for fuel injectors, $105 each, I will never be able to afford that. I might go to the junkyard next saturday, and might get some there. I pulled it out of the garage, and the "service" light with the wrench has disappeared. SES has been gone for a while, but "service" has stayed mostly. The error code P0301 remains on the OBD2 reader. Does this mean that the light bulb burned out, or could it mean something else? We will be test-driving it illegally on monday, so we will see what happens.

[Gerheardt]

To verify the bulb, you can place the key at the farest position you can, just before it would normally crank. This way all bulbs should light up unless burned.

[Cheyne]

lanxer57, you should probably post in the technical forum. Many of us don't see them in general. Be specific to current model, problem, maintenance history and troubleshooting efforts. You'll likely have more feedback.

Third gen, Sx1 with the P0301 could be the intake gasket. Does your scanner have live data?

A compression test may be in order, but a quick troubleshooting test would be to swap the coils and see if the misfire moves.

[lanxer57]

Does this leak happen on 2nd gens? Could it have a leak, even if spraying a generous amount of throttle body cleaner had no effect on the idle? The "service" light came back, so I do know that the light works. I have no idea why it did not appear last time. I think a compression test is a good idea, but still need to find the special tool.

[Gerheardt]

The compression gauge is, for once, an affordable and easy to find tool. Not sure about SOHC engines, but my DOHC has 190 on all 4 and apparently it's very good for a car of its mileage.

[alordofchaos]

Originally Posted by lanxer57

Does this leak happen on 2nd gens?

It occurred more than expected on 3rd gens. Enough that it was notable and a "go to" during troubleshooting.

Was rare on other gens but of course theoretically, any gasket can leak.

Could it have a leak, even if spraying a generous amount of throttle body cleaner had no effect on the idle?

If you hit all sides of the intake gasket, you probably would have found the leak

I think a compression test is a good idea, but still need to find the special tool.

Autozone, Advance Auto, Oreilly's, etc., usually have one in their free Loan A Tool programs. Or $25 at Harbor Freight (price may have gone up)

[lanxer57]

The resistance for the fuel injectors is: 1;12.3, 2;12.2, 3;12.6, 4;12.4
voltage from injector wires is: 1;12.02, 2;12.03, 3;12.03, 4;12.03
These seem like normal readings.
I will need to wait at least until tomorrow afternoon to rent a compression testing tool because I am going to the junkyard in colorado springs. I will be getting some parts for my saturn, including fuel injectors (just in case resistance testing is unreliable), and possibly a wiring harness for a 30 year old r.v. that is getting sold. I will also be taking photographs, so that will be fun.

[lanxer57]

I replaced a few panels, a parking brake handle, and a latch for a glovebox. I forgot the running light, and will put it on later. still no updates on the misfire, might be able to get the tester on tuesday. I took some pictures with, and without the spoiler, and I do not know why it has one to begin with.

[lanxer57]

here are the picture with, and without the spoiler. I do not think it adds anything, why is it there?

[lanxer57]

I finally did the compression test, the engine was cold, I tested for 10 "cranking noises" the results:
1;90, 2;110-145, 3;121, 4;130
added some oil:
1;100-145-123, 2;110-145, 3;110, 4;145-120
because I was not sure if this was correct (given the inconsistant results, and how far off they were from 180), I cranked it until it stopped on its own 10 times (usually 4-5 "noises"). this was with oil in the cylinders the results:
1;175, 2;189, 3;170-180, 4;180
I had to wait for 4, because the battery died.

[lanxer57]

I still have not managed to get my 1999 SC1 to pass emissions testing. It no longer seems to have a misfire. Other codes that have come up are P0172 (running rich), P0733 (incorrect 3rd gear ratio), and P0340 (cam position sensor). I have done some things to try to solve these codes, and because I can not simply drive an unregistered vehicle with no plates for a few days to see if they go away, the only alternative is to reset the computer memory and see if they come back. The last time I did this was on monday, and I let it idle in the driveway for 30 minutes and none of the codes have come back yet. Codes usually appear during neighborhood test drives, but I can not do that because the PR drum brake wheel cylinder has developed a small leak, and It can not leave the driveway until I can get rear brakes from a junkyard. The transmission is also leaking, it seems to be coming from somewhere around the bell housing. I have made another thread in the s series tech section, and it has gone a bit off topic since I initially posted it... this is page 3. http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...=269836&page=3

[cujoe_da_man]

Originally Posted by lanxer57

Some more pictures of my 2nd saturn. See the cracks in the driver-side quarter panel? I might get around to it. See those 18 inch aftermarket rims? They look sporty, but stupid on this car. The tires are also shot, that would be $300. Not affordable for a broke kid, they will be switched out with the stock rims with okay tires on my 1st saturn.

Wow, thank you for posting the pics with those 18 inch rims. I'm planning on getting new rims for my car (so I don't have to drive my snow tires in the summer) and options go all the way up to 18in (depending on where I get them).

I was thinking around 15-16in and this gives me a better idea what it might look like. I think I'll stay around 15in

[lanxer57]

Those 18 inch rims were rubbing on the splash guards inside the fenders, I know this because they have holes in them...