I have a 2000 Saturn L with a 3.0 engine. The engine was replaced recently with a used 2001 model 3.0. The vehicle has developed a very unusual starting problem. At startup I have to cycle the key on and off 5 or 6 times engaging the starter before it will start. The car splutters and will not idle untill you go through this rountine but after engaging the starter 5 or 6 times it starts and runs like a top. There are no codes. I have replaced the coil packs and plugs. Can you help?

 

lvKeith


From your description of your problem, I''d suspect that when your engine was replaced, that someone didn''t properly tighten/reconnect the electrical grounding cable(s). One of them is a bit loose, and the act of cycling the starter causes a bit of a spark to jump the gap, welding the ground cable to it''s proper point. I had a similar problem a few years back on an SW series took a whole afternoon to find and tighten the cable, but worked great after that ...Edited by: OceanArcher

 

i have 2000 L series saturn when i strt the car rpm jumps to 3.5 and stays