04 redline won't start

[t8sgolf]

I have had a cold driveability problem with this car since day one. It's annoying but I can live with it til Saturn releases new calibrations to it's service dept. They tell me it should solve the hesitation experienced in the first few minutes til the car warms up.
At 2K car refused to start one morning. It would crank about two seconds, then fire, but refuse to stay running. After 7 or 8 tries, it ran but was all loaded up. After excess gas burned off, it ran great rest of day. Next morning, same issue; but it took about 20 tries in 30 minutes to get it running. All loaded up again. Drove it to Saturn of Wexford. Tech couldn't pull up any codes, but found TSB # 040601026. It's an adjustment from factory setting on camshaft position sensor. It was explained to me that this sensor basically aids only in starting motor, so it made sense to me that this was the problem. Service dept. at Saturn of Wexford has always come thru for me. I've owned 7 Saturns and it's their service that keeps me coming back. Great group of people.
All was fine til 3500 miles. Same problem. After 10 attempts to start it with no luck, I called Saturn. They said if I got it running bring it in, or have it towed if it wouldn't start. Went back and tried it after about 15 minutes and it started right up. Tried to rev it a bit, it backfired and quit running. Couldn't get it started so coasted it down a big hill in front of my home. Tried to kick it in twice at 15 or 20 mph in second gear. Almost got it to run , but there was so much gas in engine, it wouldn't stay running. Towed it to dealer and it started right up, but ran so rough they shut it down. Pulled plugs and to no ones surprise, plugs were saturated with fuel. Parts dept didn't have new plugs in stock , so old ones were cleaned and put in. Started up and ran fine, but I refused to take it home. I know it's just a matter of time before it happens again. They gave me a rental to drive til they get new calibrations, which they say will solve the problem. Very frustrating situation. I refuse to drive a car I can't depend on.
Ironically the Spring Hill engineer that service mgr. from Saturn of Wexford spoke to on Thursday, stated that the Redline he drives failed to start that same morning, and it was in the shop also. Saturn of Wexford also said they had a few Redlines on the lot that wouldn't start when trying to move them around in lot. Hard to believe with the technology today, these car refuse to start in 30 degree temps. What's it gonna do when it's - 20 ? It does get that cold here in Pittsburgh area. Hope they solve problem ,cause I really do like the car.
Paul

[JPK]

Wow. That sucks man.


I haven't had any problems getting mine started other than having to hold the key and let it crank over for a few extra seconds sometimes.

Good luck to you. I know how you feel. I had a leaky tranny saga that damn near made me file a lemon suit.

[xtremesc2]

Originally Posted by JPK

I haven't had any problems getting mine started other than having to hold the key and let it crank over for a few extra seconds sometimes.

same here..


but good luck with it man, i hope it all works out for u.

[paintedblack]

my car had the same problem, it sat at the dealer for a whole weekend for them to change the spark plugs and readjust the cam shaft.... same bs!

[Vita]

check out the thread entitled "Official Message From Saturn" or something like that, maybe that could have something to do with it!?!

[t8sgolf]

Spoke to service mgr. yesterday at Saturn of Pittsburgh. They received disc from Spring Hill with new calibrations Monday morn. They were working on it yesterday, and since I was told it would only take a half hr. to reprogram computer with new settings, I've got to asssume the problem still exists. Can't imagine why else it's not done yet.

Holdup maybe because I told them I didn't want it back til they were sure it was right. Might be holding onto it to start it a few mornings and see how it runs. This will prove nothing. they thought they fixed it at 2K with TSB # 040601026 ( cam position sensor adjustment ). I've got a gut feeling it will happen again.

This is my 7th Saturn and I've been happy with all of them til now. We've run a couple til 200k with nothing major happening. Only time any of them refused to start, was when battery died; but you expect that after 4 or 5 yrs of driving every day. Unless they solve this problem soon, this will be my last Saturn. I can't accept a no start issue in this day and age.

To all of you who think this won't happen to your '04; I'm sure the problem is bigger than you think. It will probably just take a little longer to show up in some. There aren't a lot on the road, and I'm sure a lot of owners don't even know about this forum.

[xtremesc2]

wow, im real sorry man, but ur really jumping to rash conclusions.......keep in mind this is the first year that the car was made. you should known going into it that there might be problems....


im near 5,000 and my car starts better on cold mornings than it did on warm mornings.....and it didnt have trouble starting then.


best of luck to u tho.

I had that happen to me the other day. I was driving home from work(about 50 miles or so) and came to a stop at the top of an exit ramp. My RL stalled. I had to crank it 4-5 times before it would start again. That freaked me out. I only had it a week. 600 or so miles on it. I have to have a chat with my dealership.

[JPK]

Man, this sucks that all these guys are having starting problems. Luckily, mine is cranking over fine. (knocks on wood)

[palahniuk]

Like I mentioned in the other post dealing with this topic, I haven't had any issues starting my car when its cold outside--it has been around zero the past two mornings, negative if you include wind chill--nor has it ever stalled on me. It has ~2000 miles on it now and drives great.