1994 Saturn SL 2 from North America - Comments

Lost a lot of money on this one.

-clutch went out $650.

-timing, timing belt $800.

-clutch again (faulty clutch)

-water pump $30 (did it myself)

-brakes $300.

-wheel bearing $130.

-alignment, wheel balance, and tires $400.

-ABS went out, still not repaired.

-and finally the clutch went out again.

It's a fun car and pretty fast, but expensive for maintenance.

Just a point of correction or two:

1) The Saturn SL2 does not have a timing belt, it has a timing chain.

2) Three clutches in so short a period of time indicates either a problem with your driving or a problem with your mechanic.

I too agree that this many clutches are very abnormal-it is a result from owner or a bad mechanic.

Another in agreement here with the clutch. I believe any car with a FWD layout and manual transmission these days will be expensive to get the clutch properly replaced.

Your "expensive" clutch job of $650, (which is really a bargain by the way), should have been done at the dealer once and it would have been done right the first time. I got a quote for my clutch a while back and it was $1250.

I can see how a mechanic unfamiliar with Saturns could use substandard parts.

Brakes: at the most if you're doing all four corners and have disk brakes should cost about $150-$200 DIY'ing it.

(Includes pads and rotors)

I'll have no problem taking my Saturn to the dealer in another 10,000 miles or so and having them do my clutch.

I'll know it was done right the first time and can expect another 210,000 miles out of it, (which is what my car has now).

I would tend to go along the lines of owner. Maybe this person just doesn't know how to drive a stick shift. I know, I tried teaching a friend and he tore the clutch out of my truck. I own a 94 Saturn SL2, VERY DEPENDABLE AND RELIABLE VEHICLE WHEN MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN PROPERLY. My car has 160,000 miles on it. Original brakes, had them checked the other day, don't need new ones, still in good shape. Unfortunately, I didn't learn from previous mistakes, let my sister use my car during the summer (last year) and she ran the motor out of water (still haven't figured out how they did it) and then her and her hubby put cold water in the hot engine and cracked the block. I personally, picked up a used engine and installed it myself. No problems.

I own a 1994 Saturn SL1, I love my car. Has over 200,000 miles on it. The motor is still strong and when in tip top condition it runs great! My problem is that when my husband replaced the clutch, my car is having problems staying started, is now dying at the worse times IE: driving down the street, backing up etc. We have already put a new rocker arm, 3 alternators, 2 starters, a new ignition, two valve cover gaskets, new power steering fluid holder, two serpentine belts, spark plugs and wires, fan, and a few other things. Even had to disable the anti-theft device so the key would work, and I was told two years ago that I needed a new engine (by a mechanic) Car is still strong, just needs to stay idling. Hope someone can let me know what my husband might have forgot to connect or whatever. Thank you.

It sounds like to me than your husband forgot to either hook up a vacuum line or tore one without knowing... or forgot to plug in a sensor..which in turn would show up an engine code... but maybe due to some of the things you have done the engine code is on all the time so you did not notice... i would check these things as it would most likely fix you idling problem...