I would like to know more about Saturns please!

[becscar]

I don't know very much about Saturns. I would like to learn as much as I can. I am about to buy a used car in another few weeks. I will only have between $3,000 and $4,000 to spend. Can you tell me if there are any good reliable Saturns to buy in this price range? I would love to hear some of your personal stories about your Saturns. Which models and years are best? Are there any other good websites discussing Saturns? i don't see that many for sale, maybe everyone is hanging on to theirs?
Thanks so much for any help!!!

[saturnspeed_12]

well pretty much any s-series. i like the second gen sl's and sc's. there are 2 different motors. a dohc (2) and a sohc(1), the numbers with the model mean either dohc or sohc. you have 4 different transaxles, MP2(manual for sohc) MP3(manual for dohc), MP6(auto for sohc), and MP7(auto for dohc). 91-95 sohc were throttle body injected, STAY FAR AWAY FROM! gas mileage is ok in them but with the very little power they make, you could easily have a dohc with way more power and can get better gas mileage. quite a few sohcs are known for heads cracking, so most all go to dohc. newer sohc are known for the intake gaskets leaking causing a misfire.

common problems-coolant temperature sensor failing due to being plastic, and can crack letting coolant get to the connector and corroding it.--differential pin blows out because of excessive torque biasing in the differential due to wheel spin, but not limited to only wheel spin.--valve cover gasket leaks into the spark plug well which can foul out the plugs.--piston rings tend to carbon up because of excessive hard throttle or bad coolant sensor causing car to run rich (easy fix and something to do often anyways).

now i could go on forever about this. it seems like they arent reliable, but believe me, if you take care of it it will take care of you!!!!! guys are easily putting over 250K on them. sure you might have several little problems, but better then having 1 major problem. really the biggest issue is the differential pin. its an easy fix, as long as it hasnt gone, but as long as the wheel spin is kept down or harsh launches, it will be fine. you might not even know you are shocking the differential (torque biasing) but it can happen. other sites to check out are www.sixthsphere.com, www.plastikracing.net, www.turbosaturns.net, and www.saturnspot.com. i like the first 3 the best. stay away from saturnfans, not very many bright people on there. saturnspot has got kind of bad too now.

[becscar]

Wow! Thanks so much for all the GREAT info! I really appreciate it! I will check out the sites you recomended.
Thanks!!!!

[roadxing]

"91-95 sohc were throttle body injected"

hey, i have a 95 sl1 and its multi-port fuel injection

[saturnspeed_12]

yeah sorry, i hit the 5 and not the 4.

[Ridleyj329]

whats the diff in fuel injection types?

[saturnspeed_12]

TBI=Throttle body injection- fuel injection that is similarly set up like a carburetor. it injects fuel through the throttle body.

Continuous Injection-fuel was sent through a "fuel distributor" and from there to nozzles, no valves for operation thats what the fuel distributor was for, and fuel was injected into each port.

Sequential Port Injection-this was refined from the CPI injection gm had which used a single injector with tubes off it to each port. the sequential part was an update to the CPI in which added valves to meter fuel to the cylinders on the intake stroke

Multi-Port Injection-each port has an injector, and everything is carefully monitored so each cylinder is optimum.

Direct Injection-used mainly on diesels. this is where the injection nozzle is in the combustion chamber for a direct injection. well name used in description . gasoline engines also have this in like the same set up, injector in combustion chamber instead of intake, superior to all injections

[nightbird]

This is the best site to learn about Saturns, speaking as a non-mechanic. I have a 94 Saturn SL1. I would hate to give it up. I have had to put fixes into it, yes, but this car still drives like a new car. I never had a car that 'held together' like this one. I am used to wobbly steering, sloppy handling, and big failures in old cars but not my Saturn. Some trans shops here wont work on saturns. Some mechanics dont like working on saturns because they don't like getting parts from the dealer. But I have a great mechanic now so my life is good.

1. non-mechanical stupid design: the trunk lid of 94 sl1 is design to channel rain into your trunk when you open it. I was told it was corrected in later models
2. My model had an engine rebuild under warranty just under 100,000 miles. The dealer rep told me there was a design flaw that caused carbon build up, and I was just unside the warranty. Before the rebuild, it choked up all the time, and the dealer soaked me for expensive engine cleanouts. After the rebuild the engine has been beautiful. By now any 94 with that problem has been fixed or it isnt driving.
3. There is a bracket holding up the tailpipe that rusts out every few years. ($5) Tuffy guy told me that is the main exhaust repair on saturns
4. The ect temp sensor, yes, replace it like they say in the forum. A common problem from temp sensor is the fan doesn't kick on, so the engine runs hot. You learn to turn on the AC, which forces the fan to run.
5. Oil pan gasket. I have had to replace it twice
6. The fuel filter is a dog to replace, so mechanics may not be doing it, even if they charge you. Penzoil guys told me saturn owners never change it, so they sell them engine cleanouts. Someone on this site (I think) installed a non standard air filter that allows access to fuel filter though engine compartment. I was going to dig up that post.
7. The alternator is in a hot spot of the engine compartment, so it has a shorter life (I learned that from this site). I have installed two alternators in 190,000 miles and I now am less stupid. The trans starts to run incorrectly, spinning between gears, and both times we thought it was the trans, when it was the electric failing causing the trans to act wrong. Despite that we have the original trans and trans guy couldnt find a thing wrong with it.
7. The AC was never very cold, and the heater was never very hot. No biggie. Also, If windows fog in the winter, run the AC on warm temp to defog, as the defrosters are puny
8. Old Saturns eat more oil, and mine gets dirty faster, which Penzoil guys say is typical. So I change it more. I am thinking it may not get as cruddy now that I fixed the last problem below.
9. I just logged onto this site to find the post that answered my biggest problem, and thank the guy who suggested a pulley bearing problem. I just replaced the idler pulley. For several years car was making a low whining sound like a toy car in the right side engine compartment. The rimmm- (change gears) RIMMM (next gear) etc sounds ratched up in pitch each time I changed gear. Mechanics blew it off. I am so familiar with this sound, I can now identify the exact sound in many older GM cars, as well as some Fords. It finally got really loud about the time I found my reliable mechanic. Dream come true. Simple repair brought back quiet new engine sound, car has more pick up, temp needle is now sitting below the 1/4 mark, AC is cooler, Heater better too.

The problems seem to be the same for everyone, but they are all do-able. Like the Energizer bunny, it just keeps on going. Now the window and door gaskets, interior plastic and trim seems to be disintegrating around me, but I give any plastic a 10 year lifespan before it gets brittle. Wish that crack hadnt appeared in the windshield before the insurance adjuster inspected the car for my new auto insurance. The crack keeps on going too, every week it creeps further. I like this car, and this site. I intend to get at least 300,000 miles. Maybe then I will need a trans