Saturn SC! misfire

ryder1964 · 12-11-2006, 10:28 PM

I have a 97 SC1 that has no fire on cyl. 1 and weak on cyl 3. Had the coils and ign. mod. check, they were ok. New wires and plugs. Any suggestions?

SaturnManiac · 12-11-2006, 10:34 PM

Start with new plugs and wires, cleaning the coil packs. Do a compression test on all cylinders and report the numbers back here. Was there any oil on the previous spark plugs?! Also, the car doesn't have platinum spark plugs, does it?! Also, try running some fuel injector cleaner through....I recommend Chevron. You may have a bad fuel injector...or just a dirty one. It could possibly be something else, but let's start with the easier and more common stuff first.

Also, do you have an SES light and what codes did it set?!

ryder1964 · 12-11-2006, 10:38 PM

replaced plugs and wires. cleaned packs. used a tester on each wire. #1 was not firing and # 3 was weak. Had coils and ing. mod checked and they were ok. switched coils around but no change

SaturnManiac · 12-11-2006, 10:51 PM

What happened when you switched the wires?!

ryder1964 · 12-11-2006, 10:54 PM

same thing, has no fire on cyl. 1 and weak on cyl 3.

Alex_SC2 · 12-11-2006, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryder1964

replaced plugs and wires. cleaned packs. used a tester on each wire. #1 was not firing and # 3 was weak. Had coils and ing. mod checked and they were ok. switched coils around but no change

Make sure all the contacts on the ignition control module are clean and corrosion free. It's the plate that the packs bolt on to... make sure the ground connections to the engine block are clean too.

ryder1964 · 12-11-2006, 11:01 PM

Yeah cleaned that too. I did put some dielectric on the ign. mod. between the plate and the coils.

Alex_SC2 · 12-12-2006, 12:12 AM

Did you clean between the plate and the engine block?

ryder1964 · 12-12-2006, 12:22 AM

yes I did.

Alex_SC2 · 12-12-2006, 12:44 AM

Obviously if #1 had nothing and #3 was weak, either one of the coils or the ICM are bad, or both. I suggest swapping them with known good parts before spending money. How exactly were yours tested?

ryder1964 · 12-12-2006, 01:13 AM

Auto Zone put them on their machine and ran the tests.

Alex_SC2 · 12-12-2006, 01:35 PM

And how much do you trust Autozone?

DeCaff2006 · 12-12-2006, 03:24 PM

That could also be a bad connector on the ignition module. Mine fell out of the ign mod one day and the car stalled. I'd also suggest checking all grounds for bad connections. I'm not sure but a battery that's dying may cause this too.

As for Auto Zone testing... um yeah I'd rather not go there.

madpogue · 12-12-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex_SC2

I suggest swapping them with known good parts before spending money.

How, pray tell, does one swap in known good parts without spending money?

Ryder, did you clean the back surfaces of the heads of the mounting bolts? And the areas the contact on the coil packs? If they're corroded, you'll have grounding problems. And you cleaned both the back plate on the ig module AND the mounting surface on the tranny?

Alex_SC2 · 12-12-2006, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madpogue

How, pray tell, does one swap in known good parts without spending money?

If you have a friend that has a Saturn of similar age. I have six, I guess I'm just used to having access to parts all the time to test things.

madpogue · 12-13-2006, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex_SC2

If you have a friend that has a Saturn of similar age. I have six, I guess I'm just used to having access to parts all the time to test things.

Most of us have one. And as for using a friend's parts, esp. with electricals, you're only risking disabling her/his car at the same time.

12-11-2006, 10:34 PM	#2
SaturnManiac Master Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Near VA Border Posts: 3,648 SaturnManiac's Photos	Re: Saturn SC! misfire Start with new plugs and wires, cleaning the coil packs. Do a compression test on all cylinders and report the numbers back here. Was there any oil on the previous spark plugs?! Also, the car doesn't have platinum spark plugs, does it?! Also, try running some fuel injector cleaner through....I recommend Chevron. You may have a bad fuel injector...or just a dirty one. It could possibly be something else, but let's start with the easier and more common stuff first. Also, do you have an SES light and what codes did it set?! ... R.I.P. - My 1996 Saturn SL2, "Psycho" - 7/95-2/17/06 R.I.P. - My 2000 Saturn SL2, "Sexy" - 11/24/99-8/05/08 If you're a car begging for your life, wouldn't you want someone to add fluids?

12-11-2006, 10:51 PM	#4
SaturnManiac Master Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Near VA Border Posts: 3,648 SaturnManiac's Photos	Re: Saturn SC! misfire What happened when you switched the wires?! ... R.I.P. - My 1996 Saturn SL2, "Psycho" - 7/95-2/17/06 R.I.P. - My 2000 Saturn SL2, "Sexy" - 11/24/99-8/05/08 If you're a car begging for your life, wouldn't you want someone to add fluids?

12-11-2006, 10:54 PM	#5
ryder1964 New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9	Re: Saturn SC! misfire same thing, has no fire on cyl. 1 and weak on cyl 3.

12-11-2006, 11:01 PM	#7
ryder1964 New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9	Re: Saturn SC! misfire Yeah cleaned that too. I did put some dielectric on the ign. mod. between the plate and the coils.

12-12-2006, 12:12 AM	#8
Alex_SC2 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kitchener, ON (Canada) Posts: 219 Alex_SC2's Photos 2002 SC2	Re: Saturn SC! misfire Did you clean between the plate and the engine block? ... Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted. 2002 SC2 - 80,000km so far... 1989 Suzuki Katana 750 - Cheap thrills!

12-11-2006, 10:28 PM	#1
ryder1964 New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9	Saturn SC! misfire I have a 97 SC1 that has no fire on cyl. 1 and weak on cyl 3. Had the coils and ign. mod. check, they were ok. New wires and plugs. Any suggestions?

12-11-2006, 10:38 PM	#3
ryder1964 New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9	Re: Saturn SC! misfire replaced plugs and wires. cleaned packs. used a tester on each wire. #1 was not firing and # 3 was weak. Had coils and ing. mod checked and they were ok. switched coils around but no change

12-12-2006, 12:22 AM	#9
ryder1964 New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9	Re: Saturn SC! misfire yes I did.

12-12-2006, 12:44 AM	#10
Alex_SC2 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kitchener, ON (Canada) Posts: 219 Alex_SC2's Photos 2002 SC2	Re: Saturn SC! misfire Obviously if #1 had nothing and #3 was weak, either one of the coils or the ICM are bad, or both. I suggest swapping them with known good parts before spending money. How exactly were yours tested? ... Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted. 2002 SC2 - 80,000km so far... 1989 Suzuki Katana 750 - Cheap thrills!

12-12-2006, 01:13 AM	#11
ryder1964 New Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 9	Re: Saturn SC! misfire Auto Zone put them on their machine and ran the tests.

12-12-2006, 01:35 PM	#12
Alex_SC2 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Kitchener, ON (Canada) Posts: 219 Alex_SC2's Photos 2002 SC2	Re: Saturn SC! misfire And how much do you trust Autozone? ... Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted. 2002 SC2 - 80,000km so far... 1989 Suzuki Katana 750 - Cheap thrills!

12-12-2006, 03:24 PM	#13
DeCaff2006 Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hazleton, PA Posts: 948 1999 SL2 1994 SC2	Re: Saturn SC! misfire That could also be a bad connector on the ignition module. Mine fell out of the ign mod one day and the car stalled. I'd also suggest checking all grounds for bad connections. I'm not sure but a battery that's dying may cause this too. As for Auto Zone testing... um yeah I'd rather not go there.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
'00 Saturn LS 3.0L-Misfire Codes! Help!	Kawabuggy	L-Series Tech	12	11-11-2009 10:26 AM
97 Saturn SL2 - How to fix a Cylinder 2 Misfire?	RussiaWolf	S-Series Tech	4	10-10-2009 12:30 PM
Saturn SC1 Random Misfire	Huskerville	S-Series Tech	5	07-30-2009 10:56 PM
How is misfire detected on Saturn SOHC?	Tommie	S-Series Tech	2	05-07-2009 08:59 AM
My saturn hates me (Misfire -P0301-)	plainzwalker	S-Series Tech	14	05-13-2005 03:32 PM