I've been trouble-shooting my son's car for a few days & can't find the reason it won't start.
Details: '97 SL2 1.9 DOHC AT - never had any trouble with car at all. It stalled and hasn't started since.
I pulled the valve cover, timing chain is tight & cams are in sync. Replaced CPS & have good spark at plugs. Changed fuel filter & have decent spray from schrader valve at fuel rail. No blown fuses at either panel.
Cleaned all grounds in engine compartment. Tried starting fluid & it tries to start. Swapped fuel pump relay with AC blower relay, they both work. Is there something I'm missing or a better way to test injectors and fuel pump. Thanks for your help,

 

Was the check engine light on at all before the car stalled? How was the gas mileage before the problems started?

 

Gas mileage has been normal for a teenager driving it. The CEL came on a month ago with an O2 sensor warning. I cleared the codes to see if it would repeat, but it hasn't yet. I changed plugs and wires today just for giggles & to rule them out. Spark is yellow rather than blue. I'm thinking coil pack / ignition module is next, unless you've got some things for me to try. Battery voltage is 12.5 v

 

Spark at the coil or the end of the plug?

You said the CEL or as its called in the Saturn world, SES light came on. What code was it? Sometimes an o2 sensor code can be traced back to a bad temperature sensor. If a faulty temperature sensor is telling the PCM that the engine is overheating when its not, the car wont start.

 

The yellowish spark was at the plug, when grounded to the battery negative terminal. The arc between terminals on the coilpaks is blue. I forgot to mention I replaced the coolant temperature sensor already.
Is there a prefered way to test the injectors are getting a signal?

 

You could pull the entire fuel rail assembly with injectors attached, tilt it upwards and crank the engine. Fuel should spray out of the injectors. You can also by test lights that plug into the injector harness.

 

i have the exact same problem on my 2001 sl2.....tried everything you did except the fuel injector test.....did you have any luck with it? let me know please. Im thinking about changing out the powertrain control module.....please let me know if and how your problem was fixed...

mike
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I recently have experienced the same problem. Cranks but will not start. Pulled the negative battery cable hoping to reset the brain, no luck. Checked fuses and fuel. Only 80,000 miles on 2002 SL2. I've heard one of the relays goes bad, but which one.
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