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start-up issues with my 2000 Saturn
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dhc
New User
Sep 8, 2012, 12:51 AM
Post #1 of 4
(1756 views)
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start-up issues with my 2000 Saturn
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Hi,
I’ve got a 2000 Saturn Wagon (~92,000 mi) that’s been having morning (i.e., cold) start-up problems. It seems to start up fine but then it dies (almost immediately) and I need to start it a couple of times (and its requiring more tries as time goes by) before it finally catches. But when the engine does catch on, it sounds really bad. It sputters and coughs and knocks (and really sounds like it's got to stall out); and the rpms are really low. Then, after about 5 seconds the rpms just shoot up like I hit the gas pedal (but I didn’t), then it goes back down to normal-ish speed and then revs back up. It will stay in that high rpm zone until I go into drive/reverse.
When this first started (about 3 weeks ago) for the rest of the day the car would be fine. No issues with driving, and no issues with (warm?) startup. Now, I’m finding that these start-up issues are occurring near the end of the work day when I start the car to drive home from work. Also, on three occasions now, I’ve started up the car and started to drive, but the car is really sluggish and seems to not (or barely) respond when I hit the gas. On these occasions, I stopped the car, turned off the ignition and sat for a minute. Then I’d start it up again and it seemed to run/respond fine.
I took it to mechanic who looked at the engine light code (although, unfortunately, my engine light has been on permanently for quite some time now) and he mentioned a handful of things including something about bad oxygen sensor and system too lean (?). But he had no definitive answer to give me as to what the problem was which worries me a lot. He wants to 'start' with replacing the oxygen sensor and go from there.
I’ve been trying to figure out whats going on by reading similar-type problems from these old forum threads. Based on my reviews the issue is seems related to the fuel pump or fuel filter. Does this sound correct? Then there are a bunch of other mentions about mass air flow sensor, coolant temp sensor, TPS and clogged injector. Any thoughts about my particular set of symptons would be greatly appreciated. My main objective here is that I want to go to a repair shop with some knowledge behind me so that I don’t get taken to the cleaners. I also want to (hopefully) be able to get the problem fixed the first time and not go through multiple iterations (and credit card charges!). I’m already a visible target (short asian female with no car knowledge, lol  ). Thanks in advance for any help/advice/suggestions you can give me.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 8, 2012, 5:22 AM
Post #2 of 4
(1716 views)
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Re: start-up issues with my 2000 Saturn
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engine size?
I can tell you right off the bat an oxygen sensor isn't going to cause delayed starting or a rough running engine right after it is started. The oxygen sensor isn't used until the fuel system goes into closed loop.
You should have the computer scanned using a code reader and write down all the codes. Let us know the code numbers.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Sep 8, 2012, 5:23 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 8, 2012, 5:53 AM
Post #3 of 4
(1708 views)
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Re: start-up issues with my 2000 Saturn
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You are a customer first and should be treated that way. So far this last tech had multiple codes from an ignored check engine light and want to do some parts tossing which is not going to be the best way to fix this.
Use your computer/device to find a reputable shop. Ask for a diagnosis and price to fix up front. If you have troubles finding the right shop ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers etc., where and who they like.
Thinking that car repair techs or shops are all profiling customers to "take them to the cleaners" as you put it is and would be bad biz in any trade or service of anything,
T
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Sep 10, 2012, 5:10 PM
Post #4 of 4
(1662 views)
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Re: start-up issues with my 2000 Saturn
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By the way, ALL of us here who give you this free advice are either shop owners, current techs or retired from the trade. We're the one's you think are out to take you to the cleaners. Not nice to make accusations of the people you ask for help. For all you know, one of us may very well work at the shop you bring this to eventually. It sounds like you went to the lowest bidder type of shop to have it looked at. Obviously he isn't really a true tech, just a parts changer. Parts changers throw parts at a car until either you take is somewhere else, it gets fixed or you run out of money. Technicians have a very in-depth knowledge of interrellating systems that cover electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics and chemistry. They confirm through testing that a component is truly bad. The toolsets that they have to buy to do this cost as much as your house. So after all that, expect that their extensive knowledge and massive financial investment doesn't come for $50 when you arrive at the shop with a neglected car.
You pay for the things you cannot do yourself in life. Expect that any man who has invested that much of himself into knowing what he is doing will charge a fair and reasonable rate for his expert knowledge and workmanship. Or go to the $50 Cletus and throw every part imaginable into your car that doesn't fix it until a real tech finally gets a shot at this.
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