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Saturn won't start, door locks are dead.
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awsmom
New User
Mar 27, 2009, 8:24 PM
Post #1 of 5
(3596 views)
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Saturn won't start, door locks are dead.
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I have been having problems with my 1998 Saturn SW that has only 32,000 miles on it. Ran great until 1 mth ago. I start it up, drive it and shut it off. then it wont' start, the door locks are dead and won't lock, the head lights are bright and all other electrical works. Sometimes it starts a min later, sometimes a WEEK later! Today I was looking at the clock and it suddenly reset the time and radio station. Then when I shut the engine off, of course it wouldn't start. Had it at the mechanics, they started it 40 times over a 2 week period with no problems. I go to pick it up and the mechanic went to go get it and of course it will not start. So they replaced the starter relay, and told me it was fine. I drive it for 3 days and it won't start again! So it sits, unlocked in town. I have had it towed 4 times, only to have it start as soon as it got off the tow truck!!!! Sometimes it won't start, then when it suddenly does, the clock has been dead (resets to 12:00) and none of the radio save buttons are still programed. The altenator has been checked and it was fine. I replaced the battery (it was only 1 year old) last month when it first did it. Today when it wouldn't start we tried to jump it (the headlights worked, but door looks would not lock/unlock) and it would not start. They have replaced a few fuses to no avail., and removed the fuse box and nothing was loose. So now I have spent $1200 between the towing and repairs, and it still doesn't start!!!! Any ideas???? I'm a widow with 2 kids, things are tight, and I need this car! It gets 35 mpg (when it runs LOL!), looks good and with the low miles I had hoped to have it a few more years.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Mar 28, 2009, 4:11 AM
Post #2 of 5
(3592 views)
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Re: Saturn won't start, door locks are dead.
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>Sometimes it starts a min later, sometimes a WEEK later!<
That being said it's not a drained battery for any reason but a cable or cable connection with marginal contact. Clock reset and so forth all consistant with a total disconnect even if they look good there's a break in continuity.
Clean or replace the ends or whole cables depending on how they look and feel. Wire can fray even inside insulation out of sight.
The side post type battery cable ends are a trouble spot. Depending on overall condition by appearance of the cables it may be better to replace them and ask for the "best" grade if so. Cleaning them up requires taking them off - not just tightening up as problem could easily be hidden.
This car should have lots of life left in it so go for it,
T
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Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Mar 28, 2009, 8:27 PM
Post #3 of 5
(3584 views)
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Re: Saturn won't start, door locks are dead.
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Have your mechanic look into this TSB ,posted here....click
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awsmom
New User
Apr 19, 2009, 7:16 PM
Post #4 of 5
(3537 views)
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Re: Saturn won't start, door locks are dead.
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I have already replaced the battery and the cables. I carefully checked the car when it did it last time. When it doesn't start, the radio and the door locks are dead, but the headlights and dash lights work and are bright. My mechanic (shall I say former mechanic) insisted it was the starter relay, even when I asked him if that would make the radio and door locks not work. So he he replaced the starter relay, and charged me $433. I left the shop and the next day it was the same story, won't start, locks and radio dead...so now I have (between tows and battery and cables and starter relay over $1200 into it and it still won't start about 10% of the time. Any other suggestions? My former mechanic had it for over 4 weeks and still couldn't figure it out.
I found this post http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=135171 of a guy with the same problem so I printed it out and am going to take it to an "electrical specialist" tomorrow. And I emailed the guy to see if he got his fixed but haven't heard back.
I am wearing out my welcome trying to find friends to pick me up. Last time I had groceries of course! And it took 3 days before it would start.
(This post was edited by awsmom on Apr 19, 2009, 7:22 PM)
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Double J
Veteran
/ Moderator
Apr 19, 2009, 7:54 PM
Post #5 of 5
(3525 views)
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Re: Saturn won't start, door locks are dead.
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Thats the bulletin i was referring to in my previous post...
Here is the excerpt...
File in Section: 08 - Body and Accessories
Bulletin No.: 03-08-45-001
Issue Date: May, 2003
Subject:
Intermittent No Start, Intermittent Stall after Start-Up and/or Loss of Radio Presets (Replace Instrument Panel Junction Block - IPJB and/or Terminal)
Models Affected:
1995-1999 Saturn S-Series Vehicles
Condition:
Some customers may comment that one or more of the following conditions has occurred.
^ Intermittent no start
^ Intermittent stall after start-up
^ Loss of radio presets
Cause:
Condition(s) may be caused by terminal tightness at PIN F-5 within the Instrument Panel Junction Block (IPJB Black 68 way).
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