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Do I need a new fuel pump?

Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 SATURN L300
  • 90,000 MILES
My mom has a 2002 Saturn l300 v6. She's never had any problems with it except having to get a new computer about a year ago. About 3 weeks ago she got rearended and ever since then it has had trouble starting. The few times it did start, it wouldn't idle and died. She replaced the fuel injector, but it kept doing it. It's been at the mechanics ever since then, and everything I've looked up says it might be the fuel pump itself, but that raises the question of wouldn't our mechanic have found it by now? I'd like your opinion and any help or input that you could give because this is my moms primary car and she doesn't want to have it gone much longer.
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Monday, November 7th, 2011 AT 9:59 PM

23 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Replacing one of the six fuel injectors for the issue sounds very strange. So are there any codes in the computer?What is the actual fuel pressure?I would focus on it was a fuel pressure if not your barking up the wrong tree. The only thing I can think of that a rear end accident could cause this issue. Is if the fuel pump or wiring was damaged from the impact.
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Monday, November 7th, 2011 AT 10:10 PM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
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  • 15 POSTS
I'm not sure about the codes in the computer, as we had to replace said computer about a year ago because it died, but I'll be calling the mechanic very soon.

As for the injector. It's by the gas tank which is in the rear, so as you probably know they had to take out the tank to put it in. $650 for a job that didn't fix it. The person who insisted on replacing the injector was my ******, but her mechanic was iffy on it, even though he went ahead and did so. Im going to call him tomorrow and ask about the fuel pressure, and see if he's even checked this option out. Since it's been there for almost a month everyone is saying that I'm wrong and it couldn't be the pump because someone would have found it by now.
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Monday, November 7th, 2011 AT 11:36 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I cant think of anything called a injector back by the gas tank that you would have to remove the gas tank to replace it. As far as the fuel pump all you would have to do to rule it out was check and see what the fuel pressure was. Are you sure you didnt replace the body control module when you say you had the computer replaced?It would be on top of the glove box thats a really common computer to go bad on those cars. Verus the engine computer.I forgot to ask you when its hard to start or doesnt start is the security light on or flashing fuel gauge temp gauge power door locks keyless entry inop anything strange?
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Monday, November 7th, 2011 AT 11:46 PM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
As for the body control module, Im pretty sure it was the engine computer. The car would be running at about 55mph and would suddenly just die, and would have to be steered off the side of the road. Finally after we had gotten it to the mechanic, he replaced the computer (which was annoying as Saturn doesn't make parts anymore). And when we tried to start it it would just crank and not catch or anything. Nothing was wrong, we could turn on everything such as radio, keyless entry, locks, etc. None of the lights were on that weren't usually on. The day of the accident, after it happened, she was at the grocery store and tried starting it and it wouldn't turn on, just tried to start and wouldn't turn over no matter what. After getting it off the tow truck it started right up and had no problem. She left it there just in case. The mechanic found nothing wrong with it but when she brought it home the next morning it wouldn't start again. And I'm not sure if the mechanic has checked the fuel pressure or not but I plan on asking tomorrow. He says he can't figure out what exactly is wrong with it and thinks it might be electrical, is all I know.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 12:00 AM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
(after we replaced the computer it ran fine up until now, nothing out of the ordinary that would indicate anything wrong)
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 12:03 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So when it wont start it just cranks and wont start?Because another common thing I have seen on those engines is bad crank shaft position sensors and will cause what the computer was replaced for. It can be really random to when it happens and the sensor has to cool down some for it to start like you were describing. Thats why I asked if there was any codes it wont always set a code but sometimes it does.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 12:08 AM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Well I'm gonna call the mechanic tomorrow and ask him a few things and then I'll post what he says back up on here. Thank you so much!
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 12:17 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
It sounds like it could be a bad crank shaft position sensor bit keep me posted.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 12:24 AM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Well I just talked to my mom and she said she isn't sure what she replaced as far as the injector and pump go, but she also said that in case I couldn't call the mechanic she'd like you to have his email so that you can possibly help him figure out what's wrong. It appears since I last heard about the car more things have either gone wrong or simply are confusing him, I don't know.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 12:56 PM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Also, since I think I can post up sites but not emails,

My mom also said she's really getting desperate and any help that you can give him is greatly appreciated. She needs her car for winter and it's coming fast.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 12:59 PM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
His shop is RJS IMPORTS in Quincy, Illinois.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 4:08 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So did he check for codes if there are any what are the exact code numbers?Did he check for fuel pressure if so what are the readings?Does the car start now?If it doesnt what does it do?Just crank?Or try to start?What steps has he already done?If he hasnt even done the basics then your wasting your time with this guy.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 4:43 PM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
I have no idea what he's been doing, to be honest. You'd have to ask him to find out and I called him and asked him to call me back, so Im still waiting on a reply from him. I may try calling him back later today when it's possible he could be less busy, and ask him then.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 6:07 PM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
And as it turns out, my mom called as well and the guy's son who works with him said that it could very well be the crank shaft sensor, so they're gonna check that out first. Hopefully that's it.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 6:18 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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If it takes him a month to trouble shoot a bad crank shaft sensor I would never use him to fix my car again. You can check the sensor when it fails with a simple ohms check with a multimeter. You can also hook up a scan tool and watch the engine rpms if the rpms read zero while trying to start it when it doesnt start that would lead me to be checking the crank shaft sensor. He should do the repair for free at this point. Too bad I dont live closer I would fix it way quicker and cheaper then him. Keep me posted on what they find.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 6:48 PM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Well, it may have taken this long because hes been busy, but we don't even know if it's that. And I know you may advise against it but I think we'll go back to him. It didn't take him long to fix the points on my Dad's '71(?) VW Van, once he knew what the problem was. And yeah. My mom was saying the exact same thing, that she wished you could either fix it or give him advice on what it was.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 9:03 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Sounds like he knows the old stuff but is baffled by the new stuff which isnt good if your bringing him a newer computer controled car.I worked with people like that can fix the older cars but the newer cars dont have a clue. Its your money and time for the guesses as to what is wrong like the 650.00 repair that didnt fix it. Did he ever step up and refund that guess?Keep me posted on what he finds I wish I could have fixed but iam far far away from you.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 9:12 PM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
He didn't. That whole things between him and my mom, though. And he's okay with new stuff, he really doesn't like the Saturn, though. Difficult to work on, I guess. I should know something at least in the manner of if they've checked it or not soon, so I'll let you know.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 9:29 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Well between your mom and him or not 650 for guess that was wrong and no refund that tells me I wouldnt want to take it to him to fix anything. Honestly that car really isnt that hard to fix compared to other cars that year its not like fixing a bmw jaguar or mercedes. Especially since it pretty much shares the same parts of other cars. The engine is the same one the cadalic cattera has so thats not different except the cattera has a different intake is is turned 90 degrees from where its mounted. Also the cattera the engine is harder to work on as far as acess to everything. Keep me posted on what you find though.
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Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 AT 9:47 PM
Tiny
FIREBIRD_1994
  • MEMBER
  • 15 POSTS
Well her mechanic didn't fix it so we got it towed over to a dealership and in two days they fixed it, supposedly. I have it today and it's starting fine, everything is working. They said none of the codes were matching up at all, so he went through it with a couple other guys and they said it was electrical. So last night we went to go get it and I had it idling outside a store for maybe 15 minutes. It died but started right back up as soon as I tried it. It started fine this morning too. I don't know if it's having a lucky streak or if they did fix it. Its driving fine, nothing wrong there.
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Monday, November 21st, 2011 AT 3:09 PM

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