Fix It

In the early 1900s, people had to start their vehicles by turning a large crank at the front of the vehicle. In 1911, Cadillac approved Charles F. Ketterings design of the electric starter for its 1912 model year cars. Replacing a starter can be a difficult task in some vehicles, and it can be frustrating when the car does not start after all of your work. There are four main reasons for your car not cranking when you just got a new starter for it.

Incorrect Wiring

There are three wires that connect to the rear of the starter solenoid on most cars. If you forgot to label these wires and incorrectly reinstalled them, the starter will not work at all. Double-check the wiring of the starter against a wiring schematic for the starting system and adjust it, as needed.

Electrical Shorts

Any time you replace any electrical component on your vehicle that has constant voltage from the battery, you must disconnect the battery prior to servicing it. If you left the battery connected while installing the starter, it is possible for you to unintentionally touch the power and ground cables together. This may cause a short inside the battery or in the wiring, resulting in the car not starting. Check the voltage coming into the starter, using a voltmeter. If little or no voltage comes into the starter, inspect the wires and battery for shorts.

Misdiagnosis

It is possible that the starter was not the problem to begin with. If not correctly diagnosed, it is easy to mistake many other problems with starter failure. Some problems that result in similar symptoms as a failed starter include, but are not limited to: failed ignition switch, discharged battery, loose battery cables, security system failure, failed starter solenoid (if separate) or damaged flywheel or flexplate.

Faulty Starter

When the manufacturer builds a new starter or rebuilds an old starter, it tests the starters prior to shipping them to retail stores or end-users. This testing typically catches any failed starters prior to shipment, but human error does allow for a small percentage of failed starters to ship out. After checking the areas described in the three previous sections, remove the starter and take it to a local parts store to have it tested. In the future, have all electro-mechanical components tested before installing them.

An integrated starter generator (ISG) is the combination of a starter, generator and flywheel system into one auto part. It is used to enhance fuel efficiency and vehicle performance on automobiles with combustion engines.

Purpose

When a vehicle comes to a complete stop, the integrated starter generator switches the engine off. When the accelerator is pressed, it starts the engine again, thereby saving gas that is usually wasted when a vehicle is in idle.

Benefits

Integrated starter generators offer faster vehicle cranking than a 12-volt starter. Also, they save fuel by reducing idling time when a vehicle is stopped.

Other Functions

Regenerative braking -- which happens when a vehicle decelerates by way of electric power -- is aided by the integrated starter generator. Also, the ISG functions as an alternator by generating electric power in a running vehicle and charging the battery.

Saturn produced the SC2 coupe from 1997 to 2002. The vehicle was available with either an 8-valve 85 horsepower engine or a 16-valve 124 horsepower engine. The solenoid is actually part of the starter, and the starter assembly has to be removed, repaired or replaced as a single unit. The neutral safety switch, which prevents the engine from starting if the automatic transmission is not in park or neutral, is also part of the starter assembly, as is the clutch start safety switch for manual transmissions.

Instructions

Removing the Starter Assembly

1

Loosen and remove the negative cable from the battery with a box or socket wrench. Raise the front end of your Saturn with a jack and lower it onto jack stands.

2

Spray all of the electrical connections on the starter assembly with penetrating oil. Leave the oil on for a few minutes so it has time to soak into the threads.

3

Put a piece of masking tape on each electrical wire. Note on the tape the wires position on the starter assembly, using the felt marker.

4

Loosen all of the electrical connections on the starter assembly with a wrench and remove the wires. Push the wires so they will not interfere with the repair.

5

Loosen and remove the lower starter mounting bolt with a wrench. Loosen and remove the upper starter motor bolt with an obstruction wrench. If you dont have an obstruction wrench, you can reach the bolt through an opening in the intake manifold support bracket, provided you have a long extension for the socket.

6

Loosen and remove the bolt holding the starter motor rear support bracket to the Saturns frame, using a wrench. Rotate the starter assembly until it will clear the axle shaft support bracket. Pull it to the rear and out.

Replacing the Starter Assembly

7

Raise the starter assembly into place. Install and tighten the rear support bracket bolt with a wrench.

8

Install the upper starter motor bolt and tighten with a wrench. Install the lower starter motor bolt and tighten with a wrench.

9

Attach the wires to their electrical connections and tighten with a wrench. Make sure all connectors are free of dirt and grease.

10

Test the starter solenoid assembly by turning the ignition to crank the engine over. Lift the vehicle up with the jack, remove the jack stands and lower the vehicle to the ground.