1994 Saturn SL SL2 from North America - Comments

When I first drove this car before I bought it, nothing was wrong.

After about two weeks of owning it I noticed that it began to shift funny. I found out that the previous owner had just replaced a transmission chip for the same problem. First expense: $500.

Then the car started to over heat without the air conditioning on, I was even on the highway. Had to replace the temperature gage. The car still has a problem with overheating. We think is it the fan sensor.

Then the belt began to squeak, we replaced the belt, but that didn't fix the problem, so we had to buy a belt tensioner.

The driver's side door leaks very bad. Even 15 minutes worth of driving when it's sprinkling, my left arm becomes soaked. And then when I'm not driving, the seat is very wet, which in turn makes the whole car smell horrible.

I still have many problems with the car that I have not even fixed yet. For example: the overheating, the leaking window, and now I have some sort of clanking under the hood.

Before this car I had a 1989 Jimmy. I never had any problems with that SUV.

I got rid of the Jimmy and bought the Saturn because of the rise in gas prices. I needed a gas saving vehicle.

Even though I'm saving on gas, the small room in the car, and the many problems I've had with this car make it not worth while.

I have a saturn and it runns just fine :)

Over heating is usually a condition of the radiator or thermostat, not the things that you replaced.

As for the leaking, check the rubber gasket around the door, they do seem to be laid out in a rather silly fashion.

As far as the car overheating Mine also had the same problem it's fairly easily fixed by replacing the sensor with a toggle switch.

Is it possible you purchased a car that had been rebuilt after a wreck? The problems you describe (overheating, difficult shifting, leaking seams) COULD be caused by repairs to a badly damaged car. Have a body shop check the frame alignment, and look for signs of previous repair.

When changing the belt on any car, the tensioner needs to be replaced too. It's a part of the fix.

-J.

Well, you probably junked this car by now but as an owner of a similar car I have some thoughts:

Leaks are usually caused by the sunroof. There are drains and you have to clean them out.

I can't speak for anyone else but I take good care of my Saturn. I replaced the timing chain, tensioner, water pump, front main seal and all the gaskets that go with it. I had a clutch job done so replaced the rear main seal and clutch master / slave cylinder too.

Oil changes have to be done on this engine at 3000 miles, unlike other modern cars which can go longer as the timing chain tensioner can get gummed up by dirty oil.

As this is an "interference engine" if the chain jumps timing it will trash the engine.

Saturns are great cars for people who take care of cars. Mine drives like new despite 220,000. miles. 30+ mpg. They tend to burn a little oil.

If you are someone who thinks of maintenance as putting gas in it and that's all it's not for you. You'll destroy it. Barring accident I'll get another 220,000 miles out of it. I paid $500 for it 3 years ago.

I have a 1994 Saturn and I can't think of a better car. Yes it did over heat but anyone can fix it. Run two wires to the fan and hook them up in the car with a switch, when the car gets hot, turn on the switch.