Any Saturn mechanics on here?

[firehawk1]

Problem... my son's girlfriend (most likely my future daughter inlaw) has either a 1997 or 1999 Saturn 2 door with the driverside little "rear" door. It is a 4 cylinder 5 speed. At times it will not start, everything comes on with the key but it won't start. Sometimes it starts fine. We thought it might be the switch on the clutch so we replaced it, no luck problem still exists.

Question, what else could it be? Ignition switch? We're stumped and they both are short of funds right now. I would fix it for her if I knew where to start looking. Any help appreciated.

 

[Brandon]

Ignition maybe?
Just to ask, you have checked the battery and connections, right?

 

[Sullivan_pbr]

To be clear, it won't turn over or it turns over but doesn't fire?

 

[Titanium_Frost]

Ignition lock cylinder. Used to be about $120 to fix when I was a service manager at the Evansville Saturn. Great cars otherwise. I think it is an SC2.

You can pull one off of one from a junk yard but the key won't match the door. The expensive part is having them rekeyed at a dealer.

 

[darkkevin]

i replace lot's of starters on those. only way to be SURE is to use a test light at the starter "S" (small) terminal when it's acting up, if there is battery voltage at the terminal and no cranking, replace the starter, if no voltage, ign sw., clutch sw. (i know you replaced it already) or bad wire.

 

[darkkevin]

depending on where you're at, id be glad to look at if for you. i'm in NWI

 

[Titanium_Frost]

If you hit (very hard) on the bottom of the steering wheel whil eyou are turning the key and it starts it is definitely the lock cylinder, but DarkKevin is right, on a vehicle that old it can be anything.

No offense, I own a 90, 91 and 2000 so I know all about old ass cars.

 

[firehawk1]

Ignition maybe?
Just to ask, you have checked the battery and connections, right?

Haven't looked at that because my experience with that is everything will come on but as soon as you hit the key everything will go off and that's not what's happening.

But I'll look at it next time the car's here. I'm too old to be push starting cars...

 

[firehawk1]

To be clear, it won't turn over or it turns over but doesn't fire?

All the electrical stuff comes on but it doesn't turn over.

 

[firehawk1]

i replace lot's of starters on those. only way to be SURE is to use a test light at the starter "S" (small) terminal when it's acting up, if there is battery voltage at the terminal and no cranking, replace the starter, if no voltage, ign sw., clutch sw. (i know you replaced it already) or bad wire.

Thanks, I'll test that out. Thanks to everyone for the info.

 

[mdwildcat04]

I drive a 98 SL2 (4 door), and my sisters have had all kinds of saturns. They have all been great cars, but I cannot tell you how many starters I have swapped out. Nice thing about the 5-speed, PUSH START!