Recent Feedback
2000 Saturn SW2 Starts then Dies//Engine Performance ProblemOk so here's the situation. I bought this 2000 Saturn SW2 in December 2009, and it has been giving me start up problems since late January. After replacing the battery (which actually needed replacing) and getting a tune-up (new spark plugs, wires, air filter, throttle body cleaning), the engine still stalls occasionally. When I turn the key, the engine fires up and begins turning over, but about a half second after releasing the key from the ignition, it dies. Usually, if I wait 20 minutes and start it, the engine will start and continue to run normally; but last week was the first time that I couldn't get it to start by waiting 20 minutes. After 3 tries, waiting about 20 minutes each try, I abandoned my car and let it sit overnight. It started normally the next morning.As an additional note, the engine sometimes experiences a low-RPM type of "hiccup" and it feels like it might stall while driving. It has never actually stalled, but I would be worried if it ever did since I have the start-up issue as well.At the Saturn dealership, I received the following diagnosis:6 Codes from the computer: B2958, B2960, P0403, P0405, P1599, and P1624They recommended the following service: Replace the Ignition Housing -- $350.67 + taxReplace EGR Valve & clean out carbon buildup -- $361.40 + taxReplace Engine Mount (for reduced vibrations) -- $156.25 + taxQuestions: 1. What services will fix my start-up problem and the engine performance, and why?2. What should I expect to pay for these services?3. Is it necessary to have these services performed by Saturn-certified technicians?
The B2958 and B2960 will fix your problem of stalling after start up. The reason for this is that it has a security issue. The pass lock system won't send the right security code to the computers to start the car. The pass lock sensor is in that ignition housing. The p0403 and P0404 are egr codes and cleaning out the carbon is a good way to fix those codes.Those codes are the source of the hiccup. The prices for these is about what I would expect them to be. The housing should be done a t a saturn dealer because there is a programming sequence you must perform and an independent garage won't have the needed special tools. The motor mount is common on these but is not going to fix or cause either of your problems.
Hi AMMaxey,Thank you for responding to my question.One thing just doesn't seem to fit my situation though. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the problem is the pass lock system with the ignition housing then I shouldn't be able to start the engine at all, right? By turning the key, nothing would happen at all.In my case, I am able to get the engine fired up and roaring, but it dies almost immediately after being started. Let me know what you think.Thanks,Julian
With the S-series car it will usually start briefly and then die. You are correct with many other GM cars it won't do anything but the S car usually starts then dies right away.
Experience: 13 years Saturn Experience, ASE and State Certified, GM certified
Okay, I have an additional question. Ever since my visit at the Saturn dealership the other day, I stopped using my key-less entry remote to lock/unlock the car doors. I have had no problems so far after many trial start ups. Question: If I completely stopped using my key-less remote to unlock/lock the doors, would this temporarily resolve my stalling issue? Or would I still have an occasional stall after starting up? ADDED LATER: Hey buddy, don't give me the quiet treatment--I saw you online earlier. You know, your feedback is still yet to be determined. I look forward to hearing from you, presto.
Sorry, I wasn't giving you the silent treatment. I didn't see your response, usually when there was a second response it would show up in a window as a request, it did not do that with yours. It is possible that using the keyless entry triggers the fault. The security system may be getting inaccurate data to where it sees the system armed but when you unlock the doors to get in it doesn't recognize that you have disarmed the alarm. It may then think when you get in and try to start it that someone is tampering with the car. I would experiment with this for a couple of weeks and see what happens. Again sorry for the delay in response, I would never do that on purpose to someone.
Hey AMMaxey, so I haven't been back to this site in a long time because you have to pay for the answers. Anyway, since I followed your suggestion last summer, the car has been so-so. I still to this day have the exact same problem that I had in the original post--it doesn't start occasionally. So I'm wondering if it's the EGR Valve that needs replacing. Here's a recap of the information from Aug 2010:1. My car would not start occasionally, so I had the Saturn dealership run a diagnosis and I got these codes: B2958, B2960, P0403, P0405, P1599, and P1624They recommended the following service: Replace the Ignition Housing -- $350.67 + taxReplace EGR Valve & clean out carbon buildup -- $361.40 + tax2. Since you told me the Ignition housing was more likely to be the cause, I went ahead and did this. I saw improvement initially, but I still have the problem. Sometimes it is worst than others. In Aug-Sept I had numerous incidents, sometimes more than once per day.Here are 2 other potentially-helpful pieces of info:3. On my car's dash, there's a light that says "Service engine soon." It comes on at start up, so it works fine. The manual says this light is for fuel, ignition and emission control systems. However, my owner's manual says there should be another light that just says "Service" with a wrench next to it. When starting the car up, this light doesn't come on, so it must be burnt out (maybe intentionally by the previous owner). 4. I had my local mechanic run a diagnosis on the car this weekend and he found no codes coming up. I do not know what type of computer he used, but it's definitely a generic one. With all the Saturn dealerships in Los Angeles gone, I wouldn't know who to trust to accurately diagnose it. I am trying to decide whether to get rid of it, or to look into fixing it. 1 year ago, I wasn't financially in the position to fix it, but it might be worth it afterall. Let me know what your suggestion is.
Relist: Other.Firstly, the answer didn't fix my problem. Second, I don't want to wait around for this guy to come back and answer my question.