Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-70
I have a 94 saturn, I love my little car. I now have around 60,000 miles and have only replaced the alternator last weekend. I go to Daytona Beach FL from Atlanta Ga. on a tank of gas...I'm now having a leak on the drivers side window. I read that putting water proof adhesive will solve the problem..?
It may help, but I would recommend replacing the weatherstripping along the door frame (the dealer will have the parts... this is cheap and not uncommon).
Also, some have reported success by adjusting the door striker / plate so the door fits more snugly onto the car.
Enjoy your car!
I recently bought a 1995 Saturn SW2 wagon with only 67,000 miles on it, great shape! Bought it for my delivery route. Everyone has said they are so reliable.
Each day I have to add 1/2 of oil, go so sick of this that I now just buy that cheap $1 SAE 30 non-detergent oil for it.
Also Transmission fluid leaks out a qt about every 500 miles.
Muffler rusted out so bad it blew a hole in it while going up a hill.
Other than that it's ok so far, but the oil leak is just so annoying.
I thot it was maybe just my car until I searched the web and see that it's the car!
Saturn...just more American trash!
To the comment about the cooling fan not kicking in -- I just had to replace the motor on my fan, as well as the computer because according to the mechanic, when the motor blew, it took the computer out with it. The fan seems to work now, but only when the coolant temperature gauge reaches 3/4 close to the red line. So I think the problem is not completely fixed yet.
A bizarre anomaly -- if I run the A/C, the fan will kick in earlier, and the temperature gauge drops dramatically. You might try this.
As far as other Saturn 95 anomalies -- my car eats oil, even synthetic, at a rate of about 1 quart/1500 miles. I've had the leaking windows, and the leaking AC. My car also makes a rough gravelly noise when going up hills (and regardless of the gear I'm in) but no mechanic has been able to solve that yet.
Another weird aspect: I can now no longer down-shift into second gear, but have to lean the gear into first then pull it into second. I suspect it has to do with the linkage of the gear-selector fork, but I've found a way around it so I won't fix it for now.
Has anyone noticed that A/C airflow will vacillate? Sometimes even when I put the fan on high, the air will not exit the vents and it sounds like it is blowing inside the dashboard. At other times it works beautifully.
All quirks aside, I've had worse cars.
To the October 1st 2006 writer... I have a 1995 SL and experience the same fan problem. I found that it will kick in at 3/4 on temp gauge or just turn A/C on MAX cool for an instant and the fan will kick right in to cool down to a more normal range.
In response to that problem with the cooling fan. The A/C switch is linked directly to the fan and will turn it on at any time. My guess is that your ECTS (Electronic Coolant Temperature Sensor) is bad or going bad. The ECTS tells the computer to turn on the fan, when it goes bad it takes a much higher temp to trigger it.
I would also suggest changing the coolant and replacing the thermostat. When I did that it made the car run much more smoothly as it was reaching the correct temperature instead of getting too hot or too cold. As an added bonus it also gets better mileage now.
The only reason I can think of for the A/C to go goofy is the plenum inside the system is not moving correctly, this could be due to a weak signal from a switch or about ten other things. I'd just try to move the selector back and forth a bit to loosen things up and see if it helps. If you do tear into it make sure that the moving bits are all lubed well before putting it back together.
I bought my 95 Saturn SL1 in August (2006) at 70,000 miles. I only paid $700 (canadian) because it had been sitting for years. I was willing to work on it (replaced trans. seal, PCV valve and timer belt the day I got it and did a full fuel line cleaning and coolant cleaning/replacement). The engine was (and still is to some extent) really dirty, but I get oil changes frequently and it seems to be a lot cleaner lately. Also added a cleaner and that definitely helped after a few changes.
I drive for work A LOT (on all types of roads, idling, speeding, etc etc). In 4 1/2 months I'm up to 80,400 miles. I have a lot of similar problems, but over all, I agree it really is how you treat the car. Whoever had this car before me treated it like crap, didn't do regular mainteance and it shows. I'm sure I could have gone up to 100,000 miles without these issues had the previous owner respected it.
Bad things:
-when I first bought it my "service engine" light went on after a few minutes of driving over 50mph. We couldn't figure out what was wrong because it was driving fine, I thought it was just a faulty light. One day it started sputtering and I lost all engine power and steering. Replaced the fuel filter and all was fine for a while (3 months)
-Started sputtering again recently and this time it was the EGR valve, I couldn't afford to replace it ($400), so I had it cleaned. Works fine again. I read on another forum someone had this EXACT same pattern and eventually the EGR valve had to be replaced outright, but then all was fine.
-My fan will not go on while idling anymore, thus overheating. But cranking the heater to full blast is 100% effective. I'm sure this is a fan motor issue. I guess come spring I will have to get this fixed, but right now I'm fine with it as a temporary solution.
Everyday issues and positive things:
-Burns oil like a sonofagun, but HAS AMAZING FUEL EFFICIENCY!!! I think people really underestimate how important the last bit is. I don't care about adding oil. $30 (canadian) of gas lasts me for 275 miles. No joke. So buying a $7 4Ljug of oil every 3 weeks or so is totally unimportant to me (remember I drive a lot, 2000+ a month)
-seems that the previous owner had the same problem as a lot of you with the door leaking, I see staining on the ceiling, but it has never once leaked for me! Maybe he fixed it?
-I had minor traction issues, but bought good winter tires and now it's GREAT (I realize this doesn't apply to a lot of you)
-RUST FREE BODY!! (some fittings are rusted under the hood, but that's it.)
All in all, I'm happy with the car for the price I paid. It's only quit on me twice in 10,000 miles and was easily fixed. Despite the initial money I put into cleaning it/fixing it up (probably another 700), I have really only fixed the fuel filter and EGR valve, along with regular maintenance (brake pads & wiper arm bolts)
I can see how some people would be upset if they paid a lot for it used or bought it new and had these issues. It's all in what you want out of a car and it really is how you treat it. I'm willing to work on it to some extent. If it comes to an engine/transmission needing a replacement it's garbage, but like I said, I wouldn't be upset if that happened because of the price I paid and the miles I already got out of it.
Don't buy a 95 car of any "mid-range price" brand and expect it to have no major problems!!! Every car manufacturer has it's bugs. Saturn's seem to be with the EGR valve, door leaking and oil burning. Better than some of my other old cars!
I just bought a 96 saturn sl1.
The one thing I have noticed is that after the car is warmed up (about 10-15 minutes of driving) the car begins to hesitate and lurch like it is losing and regaining power. it's crazy the car drives fine, but after it's warmed up it drives like crap. the car does burn oil about a quart every 300-400 miles.
I took off the egr valve and cleaned it myself (which is a very simple job by the way. you don't need to pay a mechanic 100's of dollars to do this or to replace it.
But the problem has persisted. I am going to replace the egr outright this time and then I will post again soon. I found a egr for $130 bucks online. so whoever was paying $400 for it is crazy.
I agree with the previous poster you have to maintain a saturn as best you can even if you're not a mechanic. when they get old they just need a little TLC.
Earlier someone mentioned a squeaky belt even after being replaced, I had the same problem and only when the tensioner spring busted I knew what the problem really was. My '94 SL1 seems to have the hesitation being mentioned as well; when cold, in a high gear and under and accelerating load, it will "miss" sporadically. I was figuring an issue with the ignition, but maybe the EGR valve is worth looking into? Also, the thermostat on mine keeps the temp dead-center, and if sitting in traffic it will float to about 3/4 before the fan kicks on. A/C runs the fan all the time, as it should. No door leaks here, but the driver side door is hard to close, almost like there's something wedged in there somewhere, strange.
If you buy a car with 100,000 miles, don't expect it to run like a new $100,000 sports car. All cars require maintenance and many people have an attitude that if it isn't broke, don't fix it.
I have a 95 Saturn SL1 with 115,000 miles. It doesn't burn oil or water, I got it from the original owner. I had some problems with it in the beginning and have had success now in pin pointing all of the issues.
If you have an older Saturn like me, it's likely you have some similar problems.
My car was shaking at idle. This was due to the torque axis mount on the top of the engine. This engine mount was crushed and the rubber was squeezing out of it. There's also a second mount on the bottom, but I did not touch it. After replacing this top mount in about 15 minutes, the car quit vibrating. You couldn't even tell the engine was running.
Second problem I had was when the car quit starting when the engine was hot. The car also began to sputter under load (usually uphill in second gear) at about 3000 RPMS. The gas mileage started getting worse as well.
Since I added fuel injection cleaner before this madness started, I figured something got loose in the fuel line and clogged up the fuel filter. I replaced the fuel filter and the car started much better, but the gas mileage and sputtering under load continued.
After extensive reading, I replaced the ECTS, engine coolant temperature sensor for about $10 plus 20 minutes of time. Now the car runs like a champ, idles right, and does not sputter under load. The gas mileage has almost doubled. The original sensor is made of plastic, and when the car overheats, it can damage the sensor very easily. I would advise all Saturn owners to replace this part if they are having issues with erratic idle, loss of power, hard starting, no starting, etc,. The difference is night and day.
Many people who buy this car are on a tight budget and cannot afford proper maintenance or weeks of professional troubleshooting. Many problems arise when sensors go bad because this car is computer controlled, like many. And more often then not, if you have a problem or intermittent problem, you may not get warning lights regarding the issue.
The secret to keeping a Saturn in good running shape is to not only due the regular maintenance on it, but when you do have a problem you need to figure it out quick. If you let things go too long, it can have a domino effect and cost you much more in the long run.
Saturn's run just fine. The level of quality at GM is no different than all other American made cars. They all have standards and improve on every model year after year. Lack of proper maintenance is what causes 99% of problems for this car.
GM sold an enormous number of Saturns, and most were not that expensive to begin with. If properly maintained, I would think a Saturn could last for 200,000 miles, maybe even 300,000 miles or more.
I purchased my 1995 Saturn SL1 in July 1995. It's been a great car for me, and it has 110K. The major problem I had with my car was the oil in the anti-freeze bottle (I read someone else had that same problem). However, Saturn fixed the problem without cost to me because this was a recall item (although not called recall). Periodically, Saturn sends out letters regarding problems that they suggest you have checked at the dealer. When I received my letter about this problem I took my car to Saturn to have an oil change and for them to check for the problem stated in the letter. The Saturn mechanic said I didn't have the problem. Later that year oil started flowing into my antifreeze bottle. This was caused by a pin hole in the engine. I never thought about the letter again because Saturn said my car did not have the problem. I took my car to Saturn, and after they reviewed my car maintenance records, verifying I had my car checked for the problem stated in the letter, they replaced my engine for free. Thank goodness I had the letter with me when I went for an oil change, and remembered to asked Saturn to check for the problem.
Other than the engine problem, I've only replaced the starter once since I owned the car (July 2007) and (2) alternators (October 2002 & July 2007). The car does use a bit of oil, but my dad always told me older cars will do so, so I changed the type of oil I use. Otherwise, I try to make sure I do basic maintenance regularly.
I'd purchase another Saturn.
I drive a 1995 SC1, but I think that the problems I've encountered are common across the brand. The car burns oil, and it has ever since I bought it at 60k miles (it now has almost 108k). The body is in great shape still, with one spot of rust on the hood. Mechanical problems have been limited to replacing the starter, ball joint, and exhaust system. Probably set me back around $800 since I've owned the car, but it's a small price to pay for the great gas mileage (still around 35 mpg hwy). The other day, the car shut off for no apparent reason while I hit the brakes to negotiate a turn, but the problem seems to have subsided (perhaps an interruption in the fuel flow?). I also have the issue of the wipers going for no apparent reason, but it only happens once every few months. If anything, it's kinda funny.
The biggest issue has been the leaks. I have experienced every leak known to early Saturn models. I was able to fix the door leak by carefully bending the frame of the door to better fit (basically bending the top of the door above the window towards the car about an eight of an inch). Since then, no leaks through the door. Recently, water has leaked through the sunroof and into the trunk, but it has been minimal through the sunroof (about a cup will come in when you start driving after it's rained) and I've just been able to isolate the problem in the trunk, so I will be fixing that soon. Until that time, a carefully positioned towel or bucket suffices.
Despite the problems I've had, I still recommend the car. Since I took care of the problems as they arose, they were spaced apart and never proved too costly. The car still drives great and still gets mileage comparable to some of the most fuel-efficient cars you can buy today.
I must say I used to be very anti-american cars, until I purchased a Saturn by default. It changed my perception. Just like someone said earlier on, Saturns are great, you just need to take care of them.
I have a 95 SL1, which had almost 87k on it when I bought it. I have had it a little over a year now. The previous owner took extraordinary care of it, and I am maintaining that legacy.
Yes, it burns some amount of oil, and I use synthetic (Mobil 1 5w 30) but that is probably about a quarter of a quart between oil changes.
Considering how reliable, efficient and easy on the wallet my is, I just don't see myself ever getting rid of it. My opinion, just do the recomemded maintenace in the owners manual and you should be good. Even a foreign brand will give you problems if you don't maintain it.
The problems that are stated on this page I see every day working, on these a lot of problems are reoccurring due to putting cheap parts on remember these cars are over 10 years old they need tlc also put OE parts on these cars they will last longer.
I bought a 95 sc1 for my daughter w/110K miles. runs great, only issue is the trunk fills with water in the spare tire well and behind the front passenger seat where the back passengers feet are. this happens while parked in the rain. sure would like some advice on a fix.