If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
2002 SL2- less than a lemon
after less than 3 years and at 74k miles my saturn SL2 blew a rod causing a
5 inch diameter hole in the engine. I was told that it was for a lack of oil yet we brought that car to the dealership for all maint. The engine light never came on and there was no oil stains on my parking space. We received a letter from Saturn stating that the vehicle is made of man made materials and that they can fail at times. Seems like saturn cannot stand behind their product..yet they advertise "people first" and " a diferent kind of company-A different kind of car" what a joke...we bought this vehicle specifically for its safety and durability...and we were told that as long as we did the scheduled maint. the car would last and run a long time....anybody ever heard of such a thing or expierienced it....? |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
I had a brand new 97 Outback that blew an engine at 500 miles because a
valve broke, fell into the cylinder and mangled it. Luckily it was covered under warranty. But I couldn't get them to give me a new car - they actually replaced the engine. Yes, strange stuff happens, even to nice people. We all take our chances when the warranty runs out. Are extended warranties worth it? Not until something like this happens. I would have Saturn explain, however, how it managed to both run out of oil AND fail to give a low oil pressure warning simultaneously. It seems more likely to me that it was just a bad rod or bearing, rather than two highly unlikely things happening at the same time. If you can show they changed the oil at regular intervals and never found it excessively low, or any leaks, you may be able to get them to admit that it wasn't lack of oil. But regardless, they really don't have to do anything for you if the warranty has run out. The only hope you may have is if you had just picked it up after an oil change and then it blew, but you should still get a warning light. Have they checked the pressure sensor to see if it is working properly? You could also have it towed to an independent repair shop and get their diagnosis. But the bottom line is, if it's out of warranty, they don't have to help you at all. Probably the best you could hope for would be a reduction of labor cost or something. -- Dana Rohleder Port Kent, NY "We're spending money on clean coal technology. Do you realize we've got 250 million years of coal?" GW Bush - Washington, D.C., June 8, 2005 "choo-choo" > wrote in message lkaboutautos.com... > after less than 3 years and at 74k miles my saturn SL2 blew a rod causing > a > 5 inch diameter hole in the engine. I was told that it was for a lack of > oil yet we brought that car to the dealership for all maint. The engine > light never came on and there was no oil stains on my parking space. We > received a letter from Saturn stating that the vehicle is made of man made > materials and that they can fail at times. Seems like saturn cannot stand > behind their product..yet they advertise "people first" and " a diferent > kind of company-A different kind of car" what a joke...we bought this > vehicle specifically for its safety and durability...and we were told that > as long as we did the scheduled maint. the car would last and run a long > time....anybody ever heard of such a thing or expierienced it....? > |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
This is exactly why it is wise to change oil and filter every 3K miles and
to check the oil every 1K miles at minimum to make sure it is full. This still may not have prevented your major engine failure, but it would have increased your odds by about 10 to 1 of getting at least double the miles you did. Live and learn. Checking oil and changing it frequently are cheap insurance. Bob "choo-choo" > wrote in message lkaboutautos.com... > after less than 3 years and at 74k miles my saturn SL2 blew a rod causing a > 5 inch diameter hole in the engine. I was told that it was for a lack of > oil ... |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
I think owners manuals say to check your oil at the same time you get
gas or something to that effect. I guess Saturns have the same problems Honda's do with no oil light warnings. I was working on a Honda that set a code for the VVT (variable valve timing). No other lights on the dash and the car would start and run. I started to leave the shop to run a "By the Book" diagnosis until it stalled out on me. At that time it dawned on me to check the oil because the VVT works off of Oil Pressure. Well to my suprise there wasnt a drop of oil on the DIPSTICK! I put 4 quarts of oil in a 4.3 quart system to get to the Full mark. Mind you there was no "Oil light" the entire time this car was running on .3 quarts of oil. Ever since then before I begin work on someone elses car I check the oil since most people seem to inept to do it themselves... In article >, says... > This is exactly why it is wise to change oil and filter every 3K miles and > to check the oil every 1K miles at minimum to make sure it is full. This > still may not have prevented your major engine failure, but it would have > increased your odds by about 10 to 1 of getting at least double the miles > you did. > > Live and learn. Checking oil and changing it frequently are cheap > insurance. > > Bob > > > "choo-choo" > wrote in message > lkaboutautos.com... > > after less than 3 years and at 74k miles my saturn SL2 blew a rod causing > a > > 5 inch diameter hole in the engine. I was told that it was for a lack of > > oil ... > > > |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Sorry 'bout your problems, the old SLs were good cars. We have 7 S-series in
my family, and have has problems with only the one that the teenagers drive. Why? Failure to check out the fluids your own dang self in between service at Saturn. It is your required responsibility. You DO need to check your own fluids periodically. Failure to do so in ANY vehicle can have catastrophic results as you unfortunately found out. Sure, Ive heard the tired-a** old story "well, I never did anything to my old (insert brand here), and it ran forever". All you are doing is living on borrowed time and slowly killing a good car. Unfortunately, things do happen and yes, the manual does say for you to check your oil at gas fill-ups or periodically; it does not say never to check your oil and fluids yourself and rely solely upon your 3000 mi. changes. That (and Im not being mean) is your responsibility and your fault alone. Had you checked your oil periodically, this (and Im agreeing with you that it should have never happened) could have been averted BEFORE you ran low on oil and threw a rod. btw - quote "We received a letter from Saturn stating that the vehicle is made of man made materials and that they can fail at times." Hmm, reeaaaaly? That's funny, lol. Again, being honest, not trying to be mean. marx404 |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
blah blah > typed until their fingers bled, and came up with:
> > I put 4 quarts of oil in a 4.3 quart system to get to the Full mark. > Mind you there was no "Oil light" the entire time this car was running > on .3 quarts of oil. with the very unusual exception of the new Porsche, which has no dipstick... Few cars have a true "low oil level" light. They have a low oil PRESSURE light. you can get enough pressure in the system with very little volume. In a Saturn, the oil light should be replaced with a dollar sign, because if it comes on, you’re going to be buying a new engine. -- Visit the Saturn Performance Club - http://www.saturnperformanceclub.com |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
|
#8
|
|||
|
|||
blah blah > typed until their fingers bled, and came up with:
> I wassss refering to the oil "pressure" light. and as long as there is enough oil in the engine to flow through the pump, there is enough pressure in the system to keep the light from coming on. You cannot rely on a pressure light to determine oil level. -- Visit the Saturn Performance Club - http://www.saturnperformanceclub.com |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Why republicans shouldn't be allowed to drive | laura bush - VEHICULAR HOMICIDE | Driving | 56 | August 6th 05 06:51 PM |
10 years ago who would have thunk this? | [email protected] | Ford Mustang | 0 | June 30th 05 03:20 AM |
Any owners of 2002 Grand Caravan | Steph | Dodge | 0 | May 31st 05 10:06 PM |
Forza Car List | Rob Berryhill | Simulators | 19 | May 7th 05 11:37 PM |
2002 Audi S8 - A6 Questions | LIW | Audi | 2 | November 14th 04 05:38 PM |