1997 Saturn SC2 car stalls after it runs for a while

RUSSELLJH

MEMBER
1997 SATURN SC2
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
145,000 MILES

My car killed on me the other day while I was driving. It didnt stutter and die it just died all the dash lights stayed on so I tried to start it again and it wouldnt start it would turn over but no start. So I sat on side the road for about 20 min and it started again but the 3 miles down the road it happend again so I waited again and it started again after another 20 min. And then killed again after 3 miles. So i'm thinking its got to be some thing getting hot and stopping the firing system so I checked all fuses there good. No check engine light but did a code read and it passed I changed the coils and the base it connects to and its still doing the same thing.

3 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

So are you actually losing spark when it die's and doesn't start?Let's do this when it die's and won't start take two wire's off the coil tower that are right next to each and have some crank the engine while you watch for spark. Does spark jump from tower to tower?Let me know you could have a bad crank sensor.

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Sunday, June 6th, 2010 AT 2:40 PM

RUSSELLJH

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Ok I tried what you said to do when its dead and i'm not getting any spark.I even did a test before I cranked it the first time to see if it would spark and it does. But when it died it didnt spark but the check engine light is not on and it passes on the computer test could it still be the crank shaft sensor?

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Sunday, June 6th, 2010 AT 8:36 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Yes you could still have a bad crankshaft sensor they never set code's when they go bad. Next step is going to be more difficult you have to get the crankshaft sensor from underneath the car. It's on the right rear of the engine facing straight up with a purple and a yellow wire going to it. It has a 10mm bolt holding it in. What your going to have to do to make sure it's that sensor is wait till it doesn't start then pop that sensor out and get a ohm's meter put it on 2k scale and measure across the two terminal's of the sensor. You should have 700-900 ohm's if it's good. When I have tested bad one's they always read as a open meaning no ohm's value a open circuit. Let me know what you find.

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Monday, June 7th, 2010 AT 1:07 PM