SC2 Start-up Problems

My opinion is that it sounds like a fuel injection system problem. You may have a leaky injector or injectors that are putting raw unvaporized gasoline into the combustion chamber. The shaking and rough idle at start are a sign it is getting too much gas as is the blue smoke as well which is oil burning from the gas mixing with the oil on the piston rings. Don't pump the accelerator as this will only make matters worse. Should start without any throttle, but if it gets flooded, some vehicles will sense a wide open throttle and stop gas to clear the cylinders. If Saturn does this then you should hold the accelerator all the way down. If not, then don't and just start without any throttle.

Bob

My father thought something along the same lines. Just wanted a 2nd opinion. Thanks!

#1) Don't pump the gas when starting. In almost ANY weather, your Saturn (or any other car made in the last 20 years), should start with your foot off the gas, period.

#2) If you do 'flood' the car, on Saturns (and all other GM cars?), you can hold the gas to the floor while cranking and it'll go into 'flood clear mode'. Then release the gas and try again.

#3) Poor starting performance on Saturns, especially in cold weather, is commonly due to a coolant temperature sensor, which goes bad a lot on these cars. This part costs only a few dollars and takes 15 minutes to replace on a cold engine. The total repair should be well under 100 dollars. It's neither complex nor does it require removing much - just lifting an air duct out of the way, disconnecting the wire, and removing the sensor.

BTW, if your car idles rather fast, or never seems to turn on the fan, or the temperature gauge doesn't go up much, then this sensor is most certainly bad.

4) Cleaning the throttle body and IAC can sometimes help starting/idle performance. But I'd check the above sensor first, they're very common replacements on Saturns.