1996 Saturn SL SL2 from North America - Comments

Air conditioner compressor needed to be replaced.

Service engine soon light is always on.

Front rotor and brake pads.

Cars doesn't start after driving 30 miles.

If the car would run more than 30 miles I would love it I have owned a used Saturn SL 2 for 4 weeks now and out of the four weeks I have driven it 3 days. I can drive it for about 30 miles and when you turn it off it doesn't start again. But if you let it sit for a couple of days it starts. The alternator seems to be putting out 14 amps when it does run. Has anyone had this problem?

It is comfortable and easy to handle, I would like to be able to use this car to go somewhere.

My saturn had the same problem. It wouldn't start right after I turned it off, but would start up if I let it sit overnight. I ended up getting a new starter (I think?), or something involved with the starter. It only cost $135 and I haven't had another problem with it since, in over a year.

I have a Saturn, I replaced the Air Compressor after about 3 months. Then I blew a few tires, my mistake. All is well, I have had it for 2 years, got it at 65k, and is now 75k or so. I live in the sticks, and I have had one night where it wouldn't start. I sat there with the engine spinning, until it started, a huge thing of smoke came outta my car. I now need to replace my brake pads or whatever and the temperature sensor for my coolant. I spend $30 bucks on gas a week or more, and it runs like a dream. My friends vehicles are breaking down while mine runs strong. Out of all these bad reviews, makes me think that saturn's make a few more lemons than toyota or honda, but there are also some great cars out there. Possiblt just alittle bit more frequent than others, and vary with models of saturns aswell.

Jake.

Reading these reviews can be quite interesting, if not entertaining.

With the negative ones, a pattern of what appears to be either unreasonable expectations, irrational association or outright customer abuse, seem apparent.

One person buys a used care with what is presumably one or more significant problems. Without any mention of having the used vehicle checked out (common sense action, unless you are a mechanic and familiar with the product) or any attempt to have it repaired, the person instead reports negatively that the car is (representative of the make / model) a piece of unreliable junk. Strange.

Another reported two blown engines, a repeated failed cooling system, a broken shift cable etc. Perhaps there is a clue here as to this owners driving habit?

Yet another reported that the check engine light came on and this resulted in EVERY sensor on the engine being replaced! A few lines later, the same person reported that another problem with the car was unable to be diagnosed by their mechanic and that they still had to pay a significant sum of money. Hmmm... Maybe Pavlov was wrong after all!

Folks, if you are going to buy used (which makes good financial sense) protect yourself and increase your chance of being satisfied by having the vehicle checked out THOROUGHLY by a REPUTABLE shop or mechanic!!! Personally, I am an ASE Master Auto Technician, with a long, successful background. I know what I am looking at. I know what needs to be fixed. I know what the vehicle is designed to do and not do. I buy used vehicles that I have checked out and I do well with them.

At this moment, I have a 1996 Saturn SL2 in the driveway. If driven for about 10 - 20 minutes and shut off, it most likely will not start (will not crank). The symptom began about a month ago and became increasingly more predictable. Obviously, it would need to be exhibiting the symptom for me (or ANY mechanic) to diagnose it. So yesterday, I drove it for about 20 minutes, stopped in the driveway and sure enough, it would not start (turn the key, but would not crank). I jacked the car up, placed jack stands under the front, grabbed a $3 test light, crawled under and located the starter. I found that there was power at the positive cable coming from the battery. I had my daughter ensure that the car was in neutral with the emergency brake set firmly (which I already knew, but I'm teaching her to ALWAYS double check safety items) and then had her attempt to start the car. She turned the key and nothing happened. Under the car, test light in hand, I checked and noted that the light illuminated the connection from the starter solenoid to the starter case. Using the, but end of a hammer, I tapped the starter case and the starter began cranking the engine and it started.

I crawled out, disconnected the negative, then positive battery cables. Then using VERY basic hand tools from a $50 set purchased at Target, I removed the starter in less than 5 minutes. I took it to a local (reputable) starter repair shop and explained the symptom and they agreed with my diagnosis (they did not know that I am a mechanic).

It needs starter brushes. It does NOT need a trip to the dealership. It does NOT need a complete starter. It NOT an indication of poor quality. It has 128,000 miles on it. This is not abnormal.

Cost to repair = $27 + less than $50 in tools (which are an investment) and less time than it took me to write or you to read this.

Moral of story = satisfied people are people who know what they want, take the time to ensure that's what they get, are willing to learn about or attempt to understand how simple things work and are patient.

Saturns are not "junk". For that matter most every vehicle made isn't either. But there are lots of folks who are just never happy or satisfied.

Humbly.

A happy (used) Saturn owner.