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starter sticking

3688 Views 23 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  agirltrucker
I was wondering if anyone else who lives in a hotter climate is having a prob with the starter. Seems when I leave work now, temps have been over 100, the starter seems to turn longer to start the car. I called my dealer and was advised that its normal? Never had this prob with my Vue. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks gang....:cheers:
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Howdy ... YEP... but i am not in a WARMER climate... when i had my baby at the dealership when they were changing oil, changing wheel wells, fixing power mirrors (of course that didnt act up when they were checking), and little odds and ends.. i told them that my started was stuck more than once..... they said they would check it.... and..... gee, guess what they said??? we cant find anything wrong... The GM said to watch the ignition and it may be vibrating back and that may be causing it. Since i have gotten her back... it has done it several times.... idk..... let me know if you find something out.. and i will do same.. HAVE A GREAT DAY..SkyBaby-07
Yup, I haven't complained about it yet on this forum but for a few weeks now my starter takes about 2-3 seconds to start the car. There are 2 ways to start this car (in a sense)... One would be to get in and. do like all of us who have never had the electric starter, turn the key and hold until the car is started. The other is to turn the key and let the electric start kick in, BUT and a HUGE BUT...lately when I have done this the engine turns over a couple of times and then it farts out. It is suppose to start on its own and it doesn't do that everytime but it does not start once in a while. I have of late just got in and held the key until the car starts but that is normall around 4-6 cranks before it does. This is quite embarrasing to say the least on a brand new car! My roommate has seen this problem and was like what the hell is wrong with your cara nd not to mention that people who stare at me when I get in my car to take off hear it too and probably are like piece of crap lol! This is definitely my biggest complain to date, but I am not sure it is a big enough problem to take in yet as it does actually start just cranks a few times before. :banghead:
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Ok guys. First the starter does turn over? Second , it takes to long for engine to kick in ? vapor lock from heat? Third , no foot on gas clutch in and engine turn over but hessitate on start? answer and note exactly what you do to make this problem emerge. I was a mechanic and now a trouble shooter for myself. Yes I see trouble and shoot the dang thing. Seriously post exactly what you did to get it to act up. And remember Murphys law no. 34 " the machine will not act up when the tech shows up" . Happened for 24 years doing office machine repair.. Some times just told machine I was leaving and snuck back through a side door to see it mess up..Hehehe.. Seriously it does happen that way.. Skip...smarter than the average machine....:lol: :cool:
"I see trouble & shoot the dang thang!" SKI-UP you just crack me up!!!:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :thumbs:
:cheers: Folks... When you start ANY fuel-injected vehicle you should initially turn the key until all the dash light come on and you should wait a second or two so that the ECM (Engine Control Module) can “prime” the fuel injectors. This is especially true in very HOT days and in very COLD days but I do it every time. If you do this you will hear a faint “hiiisssssssssss” for a second or two, this is the fuel pump activating and “priming” the injectors for start-up.

This procedure is one that we all need to get used to do all the time. :thumbs:

The SKY’s starter (and all newer Saturns for that matter) are computer controlled and once engaged by the key they will stay engaged until either the engine starts or a pre-determined time-frame elapses (5-8 seconds but I’m not 100% sure). :eek:

Are you doing this or are you just inserting the key and immediately activating the starter? :nono: This could be the reason why your SKY’s starter stays on longer… :cool:

Regards,

:willy: BA :willy:
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SKY Spy said:
:cheers: Folks... When you start ANY fuel-injected vehicle you should initially turn the key until all the dash light come on and you should wait a second or two so that the ECM (Engine Control Module) can “prime” the fuel injectors. This is especially true in very HOT days and in very COLD days but I do it every time. If you do this you will hear a faint “hiiisssssssssss” for a second or two, this is the fuel pump activating and “priming” the injectors for start-up.

This procedure is one that we all need to get used to do all the time. :thumbs:

The SKY’s starter (and all newer Saturns for that matter) are computer controlled and once engaged by the key they will stay engaged until either the engine starts or a pre-determined time-frame elapses (5-8 seconds but I’m not 100% sure). :eek:

Are you doing this or are you just inserting the key and immediately activating the starter? :nono: This could be the reason why your SKY’s starter stays on longer… :cool:

Regards,

:willy: BA :willy:
this garage mechanic - :agree: 's
Thank you Sky Spy for that explanatoin. I always turn the key on fasten seatbelts and then click to start. No problemo. Of couse one time I did leave the lights on overnite on my truck and guess what it did not start. Boy sometimes those all niters get to ya...Skip...:lol: :lol: :cool:
tiger20005 said:
. One would be to get in and. do like all of us who have never had the electric starter,
Never had an electric starter? gee what was you driving a 1920 maxwell all these years and had to use a Manual crank???? :lol: :lol: :lol:
I will try that but I think I am like 90% of America always in a hurry to go somewhere! Thanks I will certainly try to do this and see if it helps the problem any... :thumbs:
SKYMAN LOL CMU! I guess I need to rephrase what I mean by that. I have never had a car that I could turn the key and let go and it still start. All my other cars previous to this one you had to turn key and hold to start. This one is first I turn for a split second and it finished the starting process without having to hold the key.
SKY Spy said:
:cheers: If you do this you will hear a faint “hiiisssssssssss” for a second or two, this is the fuel pump activating and “priming” the injectors for start-up.
Thanks so much for that explanation!!!!

I was wondering what that sound was behind my left ear when I turned the key on. Now I know!
SkySpy you are right on the money. Harley Davidsons with fuel injection (like mine) needs the same procedure to start. Especially the hissing as the electric fuel pump primes the injectors.:cheers:
tiger20005 said:
I have never had a car that I could turn the key and let go and it still start. All my other cars previous to this one you had to turn key and hold to start. This one is first I turn for a split second and it finished the starting process without having to hold the key.
Here here
Any fuel injected vehicle works that way. It will run the pump to get the pressure level up for the injectors while the computer checks to make sure all other indications are good. It will also not let the car start if the oil press doesn't come up. How do I know, I put a 350 in a XJ6 Jag and had a problem develop with the relay from the oil pressure sensor, without the computer sensing oil pressure the car would crank but not start. Real PITA to figure out, as I was doing a lot of the work on the fly. Great running car when I was done! That 350 is now in my '90 YJ! Anyway I digress, long story short, the computer in the does it best to not let you damage the engine.
I will have to disagree

On the waiting for the fuel pump to come up to pressure before starting the car, I have never had to do that on ANY fuel injected GM car I have had, even the Sky.
I always just get in, put the key in, turn it and it starts... never had a problem ....period... and I have had fuel injected GM cars since 1989....
several with over 100,000 miles on them... right now i have a 91 4.3 blazer with 280,000 miles on it and it starts every time... no waiting necessary...
SKY Spy said:
:cheers: Folks... When you start ANY fuel-injected vehicle you should initially turn the key until all the dash light come on and you should wait a second or two so that the ECM (Engine Control Module) can “prime” the fuel injectors. This is especially true in very HOT days and in very COLD days but I do it every time. If you do this you will hear a faint “hiiisssssssssss” for a second or two, this is the fuel pump activating and “priming” the injectors for start-up.

This procedure is one that we all need to get used to do all the time. :thumbs:

The SKY’s starter (and all newer Saturns for that matter) are computer controlled and once engaged by the key they will stay engaged until either the engine starts or a pre-determined time-frame elapses (5-8 seconds but I’m not 100% sure). :eek:

Are you doing this or are you just inserting the key and immediately activating the starter? :nono: This could be the reason why your SKY’s starter stays on longer… :cool:

Regards,

:willy: BA :willy:
Ok, tonight when I left work I did that. Just turned the key, waited for the lights to come on, then then went out and turned the key. SAME THING happend. That cant be normal...:banghead: So Im sorry to dissapointed you but that method not working.
PS: On my hubbys 06 ION he does not have this problem.
Hey Sweetie, just take 'er back to the dealer and let the service techs put the old diagnostic computer to it. I am sure they will straighten it out fer ya!!!!! I hope you had a terrific B-day, as you deserve it!!!!!:cheers: :thumbs: :thumbs:
ION Redlines had this problem too.
I'll bet they come up with a fix in a short time. Take it in.
agirltrucker said:
Ok, tonight when I left work I did that. Just turned the key, waited for the lights to come on, then then went out and turned the key. SAME THING happend. That cant be normal...:banghead: So Im sorry to dissapointed you but that method not working.
PS: On my hubbys 06 ION he does not have this problem.
I'm sorry it didn't work for you, :banghead: but this has been a concern for some of my customers (other Saturn models) and most of them, if not all had good luck with it. Definately take it to your service department and have them check it out!!!

Regards,

:willy: BA :willy:
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