Who knows 90s Saturns?

[Stormwalker]

I know there's some people on here kind of familiar with 90s Saturns (Spiral?). I have a slight problem with mine. I tried starting it on Monday morning when it was really cold, and it did not want to start, even jumpstarting it. Now that it's warm, the starter turns really fast with the car popping once in a great while like it wants to start but can't. I replaced the starter to rule that out, but it sounds to me like it doesn't have much compression (haven't actually tested it though). Is the head gasket or head known to be failure prone on these, or might it be rings? Car has 260k+ on it, if it's something like a gasket or head I might just do it on my spare time over a few weeknights, if the motor needs a complete rebuild it's getting junked. Just figured I'd see what the tendencies of these cars might be from folks who have experience with them, before I bother tearing into it. It's the DOHC motor (97 SL2 if it matters).

I knew the car would die as soon as I put new tires on it. I think I've driven it five times since doing that.

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[95.0mark]

Sir if the starter was cranking fine why did you replace it? You're doing it wrong.

[taank]

Do you have any diagnostic tools at your expense?
Start with a spark test, then a compression test. Then fuel pressure. There is at least 5 possible things at fault

[Stormwalker]

Sir if the starter was cranking fine why did you replace it? You're doing it wrong.

It almost sounded like the starter was just spinning without "catching", just wanted to rule out the simple things first.

[Stormwalker]

Do you have any diagnostic tools at your expense?
Start with a spark test, then a compression test. Then fuel pressure. There is at least 5 possible things at fault

I could pull plugs and crank it looking for spark, I do have a compression tester at my disposal, but no way to test fuel pressure. I'll start with the compression test since I suspect that's the issue. What are the five things you are thinking?

[95 whitestang]

My money is on timing chain failure.

[Stormwalker]

My money is on timing chain failure.

This makes me want to tear into it and see. I'd replace the timing chain and save the car if that's what it ends up being. Are these an interference motor? It was running okay last I drove it, so it didn't die while running, but I was cranking on the starter quite a bit to try to get it to start on Monday. Not sure if a starter is enough to trash valves.

[MisterCMK]

Need a fuel pressure gauge?

[squeeezer]

My money is on module 1 coil pack and fouled plugs

[dirt racer]

I used to work at a ford dealership in the 90's and when it got really cold we would get cars that would not start. I would check the oil which would be overfull because they cranked and cranked on it putting an extra quart or more of fuel in the oil. I would change the oil then clean or replace the plugs. Usually that worked great and they ran fine. My money is on he flooded it and washed down the cylinders, fowled out the plugs, etc. See if the oil smells like gas.

[Turbohwagon]

I also vote fuel soaked spark plugs.

[Spiral]

I'd start with the above suggested. I've never seen as timing chain fail in a s-series. Also if you have no spark I'd be suspect of the cps.

[RyanM]

Its got spark if it backfired . replace plugs and be on your way. Maintenance goes a long ways in the winter

[95 whitestang]

I'd start with the above suggested. I've never seen as timing chain fail in a s-series. Also if you have no spark I'd be suspect of the cps.

Normally I wouldn't suggest timing chain, but from the description given Im taking a guess and I think its a pretty easy thing to check.