Intermittent hard start issue?

MAGARON

MEMBER
2002 SATURN L200
2.2L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
186,000 MILES

About fifty percent of the time, it will start normally. The other times I will have to pump the gas pedal several times to get it to start. It will start then shuts off. I repeat this process a few times until it starts. I have had two Certified mechanics check it out.

3 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Have you ever had the computer scanned for codes? Also, pumping the gas pedal on a fuel injected car doesn't do anything. Do you ever have to hold the gas pedal all the way down to the floor? Also, when it is hard to start and it does start do you ever see black smoke coming out the tail pipe?

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Sunday, November 6th, 2022 AT 2:56 PM

MAGARON

MEMBER
2 POSTS

It has been scanned for codes. Nothing shows up. It will start for a few seconds and then shuts off. This happens about fifty percent of the time. Other times it is normal and cranks up perfectly. Other than that, it runs great!

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Sunday, November 13th, 2022 AT 1:10 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Here is how to check your fuel pressure. You can rent a fuel pressure test kit from AutoZone. Test it as it says but with the fuel pressure stabilized with the key in the off position. Watch the fuel pressure for 10 minutes and see how many pounds it drops. You could have a problem with the fuel pressure excessively bleeding down. Let me know what you find.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

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Sunday, November 13th, 2022 AT 5:36 PM