2001 Saturn SL2 car won't start. Battery good, oil on spark

Tiny
KKILPATRICK60
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 SATURN SL2
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 18,000 MILES
Hello. Our car won't turn over. It has been well maintained. Newer battery, its good. When checking the spark plugs they were covered in dark colored oil, quite a bit. A neighbor said it could be the rings, which means engine work. Is this maybe what could be wrong? Is it very expensive? Thank you.
Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 6:41 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
First of all thank u so much for ur donation. Let's start with the oil on the spark plugs was the oil on the outside of the plugs where the wires go?Or on the tips that go into the head?When u say the car won't turn over do u mean it will crank no start?Or no crank no start?Let me know so I can help u with this one.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 6:52 PM
Tiny
KKILPATRICK60
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  • 4 POSTS
Two of the spark plugs were covered on the tips and threads, on the inside. Just one had oil on the outside. They looked bad, burnt (this from my husband who checked this) the car has no crank or start. Thank you for the prompt reply!
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 7:11 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Most likely u just have oil leaking into the spark plug wells from the valve cover gasket and when he took the plugs out oil ran down to the threads and tips. That requires replacing the gasket. Ok lets start with this no start deal when u turn the key to start it can u hear a click from the starter or any thing like that?Also does ur husband have a multimeter he can check the volts and trace the power to see if it needs a starter or something else?Also make sure the battery cables are clean and tight. Has the battery been taken to a auto parts store to be tested yet?Let me know.
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 8:18 PM
Tiny
KKILPATRICK60
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
There is no clicking noise when I turn the key. There is a new starter on the car, and my husband checked the battery and says it is good, 12 volts. We've had trouble with the cables before, but when cleaned the connection it worked and the car started, plus, I got a new battery. Should we replace the spark plugs to see if this would work?
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010 AT 8:36 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/416332_2001_sl2_no_click_no_crank_1.jpg



https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/416332_2001_sl2_starter_wire_diagram_1.jpg


if u have no crank no click from the starter replacing the plugs wont help at this point.since the engine isnt turning over the car cant start.we need to get the starter working and turning the engine over first.u said u have a brand new battery in the car?did u replace it when this problem happened?and u still have the same problem with the new battery?i posted a trouble tree for no crank no click for u its not the best way to go about i have a better way that i do it.i also posted a wire diagram for u to follow.do u have a multimeter we can follow the circuit with?if u do then i can give u instructions on what wires to test.when u turn on ur key does all ur dash lights come on bright like there suppose too?when u turn the key to start it do the lights dim or change brightness?let me know.
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Thursday, April 15th, 2010 AT 12:55 PM
Tiny
KKILPATRICK60
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Today my husband tested the battery, and it has 12 amps. He used a meter. I did hear a click when he tried to start it, it wasn't real loud, but it does make a click. I am sorry I told you it didn't yesterday. Before we got the new battery a few months ago, the cable connection was dirty, and we had to clean it a few times. Haven't had that problem lately. My husband wonders if it could be the solenoid? He can't seem to find it thou. When I try to start it the dash lights don't dim, nor do the headlites. I just got the new starter a couple months ago, and when I checked my records, I noticed that I had just got a new starter a little over a year before, but it wansn't under warrenty anymore. The new one has a lifetime warrenty. I appreciate your help, and will give you more $, do you think my husband could check to see if it is the solenoid, if you think it could be that, and is it hard to replace?
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Thursday, April 15th, 2010 AT 4:08 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The solindo is on the starter on that one u replace the starter and solindo on that one. Yes he could test it it sounds like a starter issue. He would need to jack up the front end put it on jack stands crawl under with his meter ground the black end of the meter to the engine block make sure the battery red cable to the starter is tight by wiggling it not with a wrench because there is power there. Then check for battery voltage on the postive post of the starter where the cable goes with the red lead of the meter and the black lead to engine block grounded. If theres battery voltage there then he will take his red lead of the meter with the black one grounded still and touch the red lead of his meter to the small post of starter solindo where the smaller wire is attached with a nut its the only wire on the solindo besides the battery cable then while its being touched to the wire u will turn the key to the start postion if he gets battery voltage to that wire when u do that then u have a bad starter or ur engine is frozen up. Let me know what u find.
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Friday, April 16th, 2010 AT 2:05 PM

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