2001 Saturn L300 from North America - Comments

Hi to all. My last post was on 25th Oct 2007, 14:04.

2001 LW300 98959 miles. Latest comments:

Since my last post I had the following problems/work performed (above and beyond normal maintenance (oil changes).

Note: I now live in Santa Cruz, CA. and there is no Saturd dealer - so I go to the local mechanic - Comprehensive Mechanics.

1. Heard a noise. Took it in. Water pump going out. I think this was the 2nd water pump replacement - the 1st was under warranty. Replaced it an also the timing belt. $500.

2. Heard a noise. Sounded like bad wheel bearings or CV joints going bad. Took it in. They said the front brake pads were worn to the rotors. They replaced the rotors with aftermarket parts. Also had the rear hatch/door struts replaced and oil job. Also, had to replace oil drain plug (worn/wouldn't unscrew) and oil filter housing (cracked) Total cost ~$500.

3. Had the Reduced Power light blink on and off followed by the Service "wrench" light come on. Car started shifting horribly with jarring thuds. Got home and parked the car. No problems in the morning but the Missus was concerned something would go out soon and leave us stranded. Took it in for a diagnostic check. Code P1510 (BACKUP POWER FAULT THROTTLE SYSTEM LIMIT). OK at this time. Suspect intermittent problem with throttle motor. The part estimate was $470 from Saturd. They will check cost of aftermarket part. I will drive the car until problem resurfaces. Diagnostic cost = $98.50. Later Gator!

I own a 2001 Saturn L300 I purchased new in July of '01. It was nearly totaled in a rear end collision 2 weeks later, and after additional problems were found during repairs, would have been totaled according to total cost of repairs. I have expected to have many problems with this car as a result of this history, but must admit that I have been very fortunate.

My gas gage failed after about 2 years, but I didn't try to have it fixed since it doesn't effect the car's performance. When I had to replace the fuel pump at some nominal fee in 2006 (non-Saturn mechanic) I had a new gas sensor? included in the repair, but the gage on the dash still doesn't work. I had taken a road trip in the week that the fuel pump failed, and bought extremely cheap gas at a station near the interstate. My mechanic blamed that gas for the fuel pump failure.

After about 3 years of ownership I noted that my car seemed to be "eating" tires. The Saturn dealership acknowledged partial responsibility for the excessive, unbalanced wear and split the cost of a new set of tires with me.

Until mid-September 2008 I have had no other problems with my Saturn. This new problem is with the air-conditioning. My mechanic says it is the failure of a "switch" and that I need to take it to the dealer for repair. He was unable to find the "switch." I prefer not to take it to the dealer, since I no longer live near the dealer I bought it from.

If anyone knows anything about this "switch" I would appreciate the info.

Other facts about my Saturn: Mileage 110,000, runs on the least expensive gas (87 oct), gets regular oil changes at about 4000 mile intervals (oops), and still runs beautifully. Also, this is the 3rd Saturn owned by a member of my family ('93 SC2, '96 SL, and my '01 L300. We have been fortunate to have few repairs of these vehicles.

Thanks for any info you may have about location of the AC switch and any special tools or access problems.

Connie.

I need help - my water pump has gone out on my Saturn. It's an 01 LS and I don't know how to change it... can anyone help?

Connie.

I would take your LW300 to any reputable shop to have the A/C looked at. There is a low-pressure switch in the A/C system that will not allow the compressor to operate should the refrigerant pressure drop. This is intentional as the refrigerant also contains the lubricant for the compressor. You may have a leak in the system that caused the problem. Any reputable shop will have the equipment to test and find the leak, replace the part, and have you're a/C working again.

Good luck and happy miles in your LW!

I am a technician for Toyota, yet still drive my 2001 L300. As long as routine maintenance is kept up THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

Obviously if your alignment is out, then your tires will go.

Obviously if you don't flush coolant at proper intervals, your water pump will go. Oil changes are a must.

The American consumer needs to stop putting a blame on the company and start blaming themselves. My Saturn has 165000 miles on it and I haven't done anything to it except routine maintenance intervals, and have experienced nothing but the best from my Saturn dealership and the car.

I own a 2001 Saturn L300 that I purchased back in '03 with about 50K miles. I have been relatively satisfied with it until recently, and that's saying a lot considering it has nearly 150K miles on it now.

However, a few weeks ago, I noticed the low coolant light was on. I put coolant in only to have the light come on less than a week later. So I filled it once again, and it drove fine for the next couple of days. After leaving it home while I was out of town for a couple days, I returned to find the passenger floorboard soaking wet and the coolant completely drained.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem is, what needs to be done to fix it and how much it's going to cost me? Thanks.

To all my friends with a Saturn problem... I still have my Saturn L300 and I also have had the same problems you all have been having.

I bought my car wit 99,613 miles on it.. it was great till the car started to act up... and I been reading everything everyone has been writing about. The sorry excuse of a car GM built...

I had the entire car redone. and let me tell you guys that GM had no idea on how to build a car.. so to help you guys out, get rid of the Saturn, or just strip it and get it rebuilt from end to front..

Hello Friends.

I own a 2001 Saturn L300. The coolant light came on so I had it checked out, the mechanic said I needed a new water pump approximately $670.00. One of the guys at work referred me to another mechanic who quoted me a cheaper price, plus he said I needed a new timing belt. I picked up the car from one place and dropped it off at the other.

About a 1/2 later, the owner calls me and asks if there is a secret to get the gear shift unlocked! What??? It seems now all the service lights are coming on, can't get the gears to shift unless they go in and reset the service vehicle indicator. Sorry not sure what these things are called, I'm a frustrated lady with a dead car.

Anyhow, they replaced the water pump, I picked up the car, and yep, the darn thing wouldn't shift. They were nice enough, and said I should take it to the Saturn dealership. They reset the car, I drove it home, turned the windshield wipers on and then couldn't get them to turn off - they eventually stopped. The power locks don't work either.

The mechanic said he thinks it has something to do with the body control module. I need to ask - is this an expensive thing to have replaced? Thank you all for the information shared.

I have a Saturn L300 wagon I bought used from a local dealer in 2005, Approx 75000 KMs. Thankfully my experience has not been nearly as bad as most of the people on this board.

In 2006 I was having the SES light of doom which progressed to the wrench of the gods and Horrendous shifting. Accompanying the horrendous shifting (hard and jarring) I had a complete inability to shift into top gear, and a Significant loss of engine power (I had trouble getting up hills, no word of a lie.).

So far as I can tell this all traces back to having my car into a body shop for work (some little brat threw a brick through my windows but was caught before he could steal the car). At the shop, as with all body shops the battery was disconnected so that the work didn't harm the electrical system, this is what I consider the catalyst and from what a lot of people are saying unhooking the battery or interrupting the electrical system tends to result in issues.

Either way I had my car towed into the Saturn dealer, where I was promptly (2 days later) told that my Mass Airflow Sensor was gone, and my battery was shot. Can't remember the total cost but I know it was over $800 (Canadian dollars) for the airflow sensor itself. Car has since run perfectly fine, until just recently.

Currently I'm having problems with the battery being dead in the morning on cold days. All my research points to a nearly dead alternator, but I have butterflies because now my speedo/odometer is not working. I will be checking the fuses later today to see if that is the issue, and will do the alternator myself if it turns out to be, otherwise I will be taking the car in over the Christmas Holidays.

Wish me luck.

2004 L300 E Brake frozen; dealer says $300-400 to replace. Has anyone else had this issue? Any less expensive suggestions?

Thanks.

I've got a Saturn L300 with about 151,000 miles on it. When I turn on my AC, water starts leaking from the middle console into the floorboards. Eventually, both front floorboards are soaked.

What's wrong and how much do you think it will cost to fix?

I'm praying I can get 200,000 miles out of the car before I roll it into the Gulf. I'm scared to take it to the dealership, as they are criminals.

I have a 2000 LS2 Saturn, and when I fill it up with gas, it just won't start.. WHY.

Please, Please help!!!

Again only when I fill it up!!!

Thank you very much

Dennis.

The the person who posted on 9th Feb 2009, 21:57.

I also have a Saturn L300 and had the IDENTICAL problem with the water leaking from the middle console where I had a huge puddle on the driver's side.

Fixing this will cost you ZERO. No respectable mechanic should even charge you to fix this... here is what it is:

There's a pan and drain that's clogged most likely from leaves or dirt. It takes a mechanic about 2 minutes to go underneath, remove the pan, unclog and put the pan back on.

My mechanic did it for free. Literally took a few minutes. The problem has not recurred.

I have a 2003 Saturn L300, 6 cylinder, my brother-in-law is changing the oil and oil filter. He is unable to take out and change the oil filter. Anyone able to offer any suggestions?

Changing the oil filter is not too different from most cars... The smallish aluminum filter housing s located just ahead of the oil pan above a cross-member. You can use a large adjustable wrench or a 3/8" drive ratchet (it fits in the end) to spin it out. The new filter "snaps" into into the housing to hold it while installing the filter/housing.

The new filter comes with a new "o"-ring for the housing.

Clean the portion of the housing that screws into the engine block as well as the "o"-ring groove.

Unfortunately, I have some experience working on L300's.

I have more time than money, so I will attempt most repairs myself.

My current problems are: dash lights, speedo, tach.

Going dead for some period of time on an intermittent basis. I know it is the BCM, I'm just trying to find a cheap used one. Fuel gauge results are inverted, My A/C condensor has a small leak, and my thermostat runs cold.

Have had the "stalling and won't start till cool" problem (Crankshaft position sensor) and have been through 2 mass-air sensors. (rough shifts, check engine light or No-codes).

The sunroof works great!!!