Our Saturn is currently on its third alternator, and its second battery.
The ever occurring theme of oil consumption plagues our Saturn as well.
The belt tensioner had to be replaced.
The Service Engine Soon light is continuously on.
The original Power Steering pump leaked and had to be replaced.
Working in the Automobile field for many years, I am not sure what to make of the alternator failures. Maybe being located under the P/S pump and the leakage shorted the original out?
The oil consumption problem is in my opinion the result of how the engine is cast. Very thin and cheaply made.
In our Saturn I believe the Exhaust valve seals are failing.
Next the rings are not controlling oil on the cylinder walls.
The information I have says engine does not have enough material for rebuild.
Finding a used low mileage engine is said way to go.
The Service Engine Soon light is on because O2 sensors are reading inaccurately because of oil in exhaust system. (my diagnosis)
Information I have says not to rebuild but find used engine. Engine does not have enough material for rebuild.
I have an SL-2 with 205000 miles, my wife loves the car, but too small for me. I have cat problem also and oil consumption issue. I figured that use of oil also was setting off service engine light. My issue may be head gasket because I'm losing small amount of coolant. I want to get her a new car, but she loves this one. It has been a good car for us, but I also was looking at a cobalt for her. She wanted a new motor, but I told her I could get the whole car for the price.
The oil consumption problem is actually designed into the motor to allow the top ring to receive lubrication. Saturn couldn't figure out how to do it without burning oil. This oil consumption problem can also be solved by rebuilding the engine and replacing the sleeves with tapered sleeves. The original sleeves aren't tapered. And with 5W30 oil, tapered would allow for a tighter fit and no oil consumption. Of course you could rebuild the head and have the oil holes ported which will allow 10W-40 oil to be used instead of 5W30. The tiny oil holes are the reason for such thin oil. These two things will eliminate oil consumption. As for the alternator, the wire that goes from the alternator to the starter is a fuseable link, which means it gradually becomes less conductive and more resistive. The resistance causes heat to build up in the alternator and it to eventually fail. Replace the wire with a part from a GMC or chevrolet, that is not fuseable. This will breathe life into your electrical system. you won't believe the difference. Bright lights, loud radio, peppy acceleration..ect..amazing.
Albert.
We have a 1997 Saturn SL2 that was in two accidents in 2001. Each time it was repaired well. The exhaust manifold just popped off this Saturday. I'm afraid that I will have to buy a whole new exhaust system. The oil burning I just noticed after eleven years. We used to change every three thousand miles, but that stopped about a year ago.
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