PS In cold weather, if possible you should try to never let your fuel tank
get below 1/2 full since the more air you have in the empty tank, then the
more water is able to condense on the cold walls and then mix with the fuel
possibly leading to the problem you are experiencing.

Bob


"Bob Shuman" > wrote in message
...
>A car engine needs four basic things to start: vaporized gasoline/fuel,
>oxygen/air, compression, and spark/ignition. Since you sprayed starter
>fluid down the throttle body (I assume the throttle plate was wide open
>when you tried that?) and did not hear it trying to start, it either is
>very badly flooded (you usually would smell this condition) or one of the
>other necessary ingredients is missing.
>
> I'd make sure you are getting ignition by removing the spark plugs (one at
> a time to not mix up the wires) and making sure they are not fouled. If
> they are old, just replace them with new, properly gapped plugs. If they
> are fairly new, you can clean them with a bit of sand paper or emery
> cloth. Spark can also be checked while they are out by leaving an ignition
> wire attached and grounding the threaded base of the electrode. Be
> careful doing this and use proper insulation since you do not want to get
> jolted by several thousand volts!
>
> If you have spark and fuel, then make sure the engine is not flooded.
> Also check the air filter to make sure it is not clogged. If it has not
> been replaced lately, then replace that as well since it will not hurt.
> If all this fails, then you need to make sure you actually have the engine
> and valves turning in synch and that the timing chain did not jump a few
> teeth or completely break/fall off (no compression).
>
> Good luck.
>
> Bob
>
> PS As another poster indicated, 4 quarts is the full capacity of the crank
> case, so if you really were down more than 1 quart for any period of time,
> then you likely have done significant long-term damage to the engine.
>
>
>
> "Snow" > wrote in message
> ...
> On Dec 21, 4:38 pm, navaidstech > wrote:
>> On Dec 21, 5:24 pm, Snow > wrote:
>>
>> > Hi,
>>
>> > I have a Saturn 01 sl2 that will not start it will crank but will not
>> > turn over I don't know if its because it 30 below today or what. Heres
>> > the problem: Car would not start tried to Jump start the car. Car
>> > would not take the jump. So decide to change the battery, still
>> > noting, checked the oil which was VERY low put 4 quarts of oil in the
>> > engine nothing. I think its the altnerator but I don't know. Also I
>> > was leaking Coolent but it has now stoped and now Im leaking
>> > transmission fuild. Can your car not start because of no transmission
>> > fuild? Please Help!!!!!!!!
>>
>> > Thanks in advance!
>>
>> Oh man, sounds like you need a new car.
>> Have you checked to make sure you got gas? Is the fuel pump working ?
>> You should hear a soft whirrrrrrrrr sound coming from the rear of the
>> vehicle just as you turn your key to battery position (one notch
>> before crank). The sound will go for a second or so and then stop. If
>> you don't hear it - it's your pump.
>> Could be that your gas line froze as well (30 below, yikes!)
>> If the car doesn't start when jumped, this tells me that it's not your
>> alternator.
>>
>> Anyway, bottom line is to make sure gas making its way to the
>> engine...
>
> OK, So today I added a bottle of ISO HEET and some gas previously was
> at 1/4 tank now at 1/2 , replaced the battery, .........still
> nothing .... sprayed starter spray in the carb. still nothing I don't
> think the engine seizes because it would just click instead of faking
> like it wants to turn over..(actually had that happen before)...so I'm
> like out of ideas. ..also when trying to crank if after the 5 try
> the battery is drain and needs to be recharged new and old one.....
>
> Thanks to all who replied..
>