hey just brought a 1997 saturn sl2 w/manual trans

[americanbulldog]

hey every 1,

i just brought a 1997 saturn sl2 w/manuel trans and it has about 69k miles on it.and i was wondering what are something that go wrong with these .like what are commen problems with these cars.

and wjhats the different between sl1 and sl2.

let me know if theer is anything i should look out for.


thanks

[Onimacus]

Most common problem that I've seen on boards, and experianced myself is the Engine Coolent Temp Sensor (ECTS)

If it hasn't been changed yet I'm sure it will at some point sooner or later.

Also just check your oil regularly, there are a lot of Saturn's that burn oil up pretty good. I have a 1998 SL2, however, and ittial pin burns almost no oil at all.

The difference between the SL1 and the SL2, mainly, is the engine, SL1 has a n SOHC (Single OverHead Cam) and the SL2 has a DOHC (Duel OverHead Cam)

[SL2_Racer]

Another problem that seems to occur is O2 sensors. It has happened to me a couple times because i was using a bosch one. Dont use them, get a stock one from the dealer, it may be more expensive, but it will last longer.

[saturnspeed_12]

96-98 have also had fuel pumps go out. you will be able to tell when its going bad. starting it will take some cranking before it finally goes. the other common problem is valve cover gasket leaks, which is a typical problem throughout all years but the earlier aluminum covers tend to hold better. one other thing is a p0341 which pertains to a cam sensor code, which there is no cam sensor. this problem is a misfire or high resistance in ignition system. this can be thrown from a little moisture in cylinder at start up. not a big deal but can also mean a bad coil, bad wires, or bad plugs which are the normal issues for the code. i use to throw the code every cold damp morning since i had an intake on my car.


there are a few more differences between s(x)1 and s(x)2, like another would be trans. dohc had a "performance" trans which had shorter gears for a quicker acceleration while sohc had a normal trans which had a few longer gears then the dohcs would. now "performance" doesnt pertain to autos with a performance switch, that switch is a joke and can be found on sohc autos too. "performance" has to only deal with gears.

[americanbulldog]

? sometimes when im at a stop and im in gear.(i have a sl2 with 5 speed manual trans)with the clutch engauged the car will start to shake..it feels like the exhaust is shaking and moving the car.so when if it does that and i rev the engine it will stop once it gets past like 2k rpm.or if i take it out of gear it will stop.i checked the exhaust and rite after the flex pipe its snapped.so i was wopndering could this be whats wrong.or makin it shake once in a ahwile.or is it something else and what else could it be.

[saturnspeed_12]

check your upper engine mount

[sierrap615]

you should shift into neutral when stoped then shift into gear when needed, holding the clutch in for more then a few seconds will accelerate wear on the thrust and throwout bearings.

[americanbulldog]

sometime when i drive and then turn my car off and then try and start it back up.in like 30 min or so its a lil hard.like it will turn over.and ill hold it and it wont start ill tsop and then try again.and it will.is thius the fuel pump.if so are they hard to change and are they expensive

[sierrap615]

what you discirbe is a design flaw of the 97 fuel pump, i'm not sure if replacement would fix the problem but a simple cheap fix is to turn the key to ON a few seconds before cranking the engine, this should allow the fuel pump time to prime the fuel system before starting.