1993 Saturn SL Logo
Posted on Jun 12, 2009
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My saturn is very hard to start ,like its not getting enough fuel. once it cranks it often surges, high to low rpms

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  • Expert 166 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 12, 2009
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Hmm, there are several questions left unanswered, such as when does it have a hard time starting, in the morning and what's the ambient temperature like atthat time, etc.

With the ambiguity of your situation, I can tell that it may be a variety of factors, including the possibility that either 1) the fuel pump check valve, 2) the fuel pressure regulator, 3) the fuel injectors, or 4) the fuel pump electrical circuit is malfunctioning, as found and nicely explained in a handy article at the following link:

http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_How_To_Pages_Vehicle_Car_Zone_Cars_Trucks_Vans_Engine_System_Engine_Hard_To_Start_Morning_After_Hours.htm

As to the surging, up and down, there are eight probable causes of such a problem, as noted in this handy diagnositc article at this link:

http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_How_To_Pages_Vehicle_Car_Zone_Cars_Trucks_Vans_Engine_System_Engine_Surges.htm

These articles should definitely help you.

Good luck,
Brad

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  • Saturn Master 3,854 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 12, 2009
Harvey N Tawatao
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If there is a Auto Zone not to far from you, have the car scanned for any DTC codes. That would help indicate what issues the engine may have that is causing your problem. I am leaning towards that you are having a MAP sensor problem, check the wire harness to the MAP sensor for corrosion or break in the wire. If you like, try disconnecting the MAP sensor and see if the engine starts, if it does. Is there any changes, if there is no change then the MAP sensor is bad. The other thing too that may do this is a BAD or dirty EGR valve, you can try cleaning it with carb cleaner or replacing it. IF you do go to Auto Zone, they will have the step by step instructions to the MAP sensor and EGR Valve replacement. Good luck and keep me posted, be glad to help

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  • Saturn Master 2,007 Answers
  • Posted on Jun 12, 2009
Dar
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Change ildle air control valve/ sensor.

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Sounds like your fuel pump starting to die. It is not getting enough gas under heavy acceleration which is 100% fuel pump slowly dying. At start up it might not be building up enough fuel pressure to feed the system but the shot of ether and engine cranking helps pressure the system just enough for the fuel pump to trickle the gas and run the engine at low rpms.
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Runs rough and dies at low rpms

This can be a number of things but you can try process of elimination.

It could be:
1. Bad spark plugs, wires or rotor
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Without seeing it or hands on it could be a number of things.

try checking those to start to narrow it down. And it always could be something else as well such as timing etc..

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fuel, oxygen, and spark. Check all of these. Is it getting air. Is your filter clean. Are you getting spark. if not check your plugs wires and coil. finaly check your fuel. Are you getting enough fuel. Replace the filter, make sure you are getting enough psi's before the injectors. also make sure the fuel pump is working.

You will probably need to put your car on a computer scanner.

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Try pulling the engine coolant temp sensor, They often crack not sure why but the ceramic tip cracks makes the car hard to start, the car's idle may race while shifting gears, and often smokes. The sensor is on the right side of the engine when looking at it on the head. Easy to change and get too
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Non-start situations basically boil down to two things: No Fuel, or no spark.

I you are looking to throw a part at it, start with the crank sensor. They are cheap and not too hard to replace.

A full diagnostic approach would be to determine if it was a fuel or a spark problem. Check fuel pressures with a fuel pressure test guage: Low fuel pressure indicates a bad fuel pump or a bad fuel presssure regulator. Lastly on the fuel side, check t see if the injectors are getting a signal to fire, usually done with something called a noid light, I believe.

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could be a vacuum leak. When rpms are up, it has enough vac to operate properly. Check all vacuum hoses and make sure they are all on, and look for splits or cracks in the hoses
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