1995 Saturn SL2 Cold Start Problem HELP!

MyWe’ve had a cold snap where temps are around 0 give or take 10 degrees. The car has always run fine until recently. It takes many times for the car to finally fire and run but once it is running it runs perfectly like it always has. After the car is warm and you shut it off it will fire right up but let it sit overnight and its back to being stubborn. We have tried many things but it still isn’t fixed. Here’s the list of what we’ve tried. Please help!!!

check fuel pressure when it’s warm and cold – tested fine
crank sensor replaced
check for spark – tested fine
fuel filter replaced 10k ago
fuel pressure regulator tested
new plugs
checked air filter
plug wires replaced 10k ago
used starter fluid to see if it would start – started right up when starter fluid blown in air intake

What type of oil are you using? 10-30? 10-40? I use 10-30 in my Saturn and when it gets cold enough, it will start, die then start just because of the oil being too thick because of the cold. This was around 20 degrees so if you're getting down to zero, this could be making it even worse. Get one of those little magnetic oil pan heaters. I bet that would work wonders.

make sure your battery is in good shape and make sure you are useing no more then a 5W-30 oil

make sure your battery is in good shape and make sure you are useing no more then a 5W-30 oil

Car turns over no problem even after trying to start it over and over every time.

it could still be your battery since it is so cold outside.

it could still be your battery since it is so cold outside.

I think it's the Coolant Temp Sensor. I'm replacing that.

A bad ECTS would not keep the car from running or make it hard to start. When the car finally does start, do you get a cloud of black smoke out the tailpipe?

A bad ECTS would not keep the car from running or make it hard to start. When the car finally does start, do you get a cloud of black smoke out the tailpipe?

No i dont get a black cloud of smoke. The local Saturn mechanic said it could cause hard cold starts. Another local mechanic told me the same thing. A faulty ECTS will tell the computer it's hot even when it's 10 below out causing the fuel mixture to not be sufficient enough to start at that cold of a temp.

No i dont get a black cloud of smoke. The local Saturn mechanic said it could cause hard cold starts. Another local mechanic told me the same thing. A faulty ECTS will tell the computer it's hot even when it's 10 below out causing the fuel mixture to not be sufficient enough to start at that cold of a temp.


Sounds a little far fetched but I suppose it could happen. In my experience when an ECTS goes bad, it reads cold. Anyway, it couldn't hurt to replace it, it's cheap and easy to do.

Sounds a little far fetched but I suppose it could happen. In my experience when an ECTS goes bad, it reads cold. Anyway, it couldn't hurt to replace it, it's cheap and easy to do.

We tested it and it reads hot all the time, not cold.

Interesting. That would certainly cause a problem, then.

Interesting. That would certainly cause a problem, then.
Got down to -15 last night and we let the car sit outside. it fired right up this morning and it was -10. If that’s not a good test I don’t know what is!!