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Saturn S-Series: Fuel System

39 messages,  Last post on Oct 20, 2009 at 8:56 AM

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What is this discussion about? Saturn S-Series, Fuel System, Coupe

Messages Page 3 of 4

#20 of 39 Special Policy: 1997 Saturn Fuel Pump Failure by satidle

Dec 30, 2007 (2:47 pm)

Has anyone had experience with this? I bought my '97 SL1 in Sep 1999 with 24K miles. By Nov 1999 I was already having problems with it starting hard, or starting and running then dying suddenly. Saturn Svc was unable to verify/duplicate problem: No codes, battery OK, PCM Temp Sensor reading properly. In April 2000, I received a letter from Saturn Corp re their "Special Policy relating to 1997 model year Saturn vehicles. The fuel pump... may fail prematurely and cause extended crank time, loss of power, and possible no-start conditions." Saturn would provide fuel pump replacement [at no cost]... for six years from [original service date] or 75,000 miles, whichever comes first." For me, that meant Aug 2002 or another 50,000 miles. It goes on to say if you have already experienced such problem and paid for fuel pump replacement, Saturn will reimburse you. I should have taken it in then, but my daughter was using the car away at college and had not complained about the problem for awhile. In Sep 2002 (39,00 miles), an electrical problem reared it's ugly head and the generator assembly was replaced. In Dec 2002, the cold start problem returned w/rough idle and engine vibration. Saturn Svc diagnosed this as "torque axis mount collapsed", whatever that is. Sounds more like a result of the problem than a cause. So where are we going with this? Well in Mar 2003, with only 57,000 miles, my daughter was driving the car at highway speeds, the car began to lose power, she stepped on accelerator but it continued to slow until it died. Saturn Svc (different dealer) diagnosed that the "timing chain jumped time and bent all the valves." The engine was basically destroyed. Replacement with used engine, exchanged parts, and labor cost her $1,944. Granted this occurred well beyond the extended warranty, and my luck, just 6 months beyond the Special Policy replacement period, but it seems to me that Saturn should be partly responsible for this and reimburse my daughter some of this expense. What would cause the timing chain to jump time and destroy the valves? My guess is fuel pump failure at highway speeds. If Saturn Svc had correctly diagnosed this problem the year before, this would probably not have happened. Before I take my case to Saturn Customer Assistance, I wanted to know if others have dealt with this and what you think of my argument. Thanks for allowing me to rant.
 
TAG

#21 of 39 97 saturn lemon by rbillieux

Mar 20, 2008 (2:44 pm)

Replying to: 92saturnsl1 (Jul 15, 2007 7:16 pm)
P0404 and Po221 codes --egr and tps replaced all with exception EGR. cleaned throttle body -comes on usually after sticking aand fuel low. Sometimes put gas in and shuts off -new gas cap. I tried something I took off gas cap and pressed in valve and put cap on and it went off.prev cleaned EGR.TO THE DUMP

#22 of 39 1995 SC2 IDLES TO FAST! by saturn56

Jun 13, 2008 (3:30 pm)

I have around 165,000 on my 1995 sc2 saturn coupe......One day out of the blue it began to idle too fast.....I was told by my mechanic that you can not manually adjust it....and that I would have to pay over $200.00 to replace the "chip".......My gas miliage is so terrible becouse of this promblem!!!!!!Please....can somebody help me with this promblem?...It is driving me crazy!....Thank you!
                                             Andrew

#23 of 39 Re: 1995 SC2 IDLES TO FAST! [saturn56] by 442dude

Jun 19, 2008 (12:03 pm)

Replying to: saturn56 (Jun 13, 2008 3:30 pm)
Change your engine coolant temperature sensor...ECTS will cost less than 50 bucks and takes about 15 minutes...

#24 of 39 Re: 1995 SC2 IDLES TO FAST! [442dude] by saturn56

Jun 19, 2008 (1:45 pm)

Replying to: 442dude (Jun 19, 2008 12:03 pm)
Thank you sooooooooooo much!....Finally my 1995 sc2 is running normal agion!
God Bless You!

#25 of 39 02 sl1 idle problem by blackeywhite

Jul 01, 2008 (12:54 am)

Hey all, maybe there is someone out there that has had the same problem. But anyway, my saturn is having an idle problem, she starts(most of the time without a problem) but there are times when i have to push down on the accelator to get it to start, then she goes to a low idle and lately, bogs down to 600 rpm and if i don't hit the gas she sometimes dies on me , now there isn't a problem all the time, but it does seem to be getting worse. She also bogs down when i stop at lights and sometimes dies on me too. I did a basic tune up on her (spark plugs and wires) about 4 months ago , I also changed the air filter and i change the oil regularly. Now someone told me it could be a fuel filter, but i dont know where it is, i do think it is underneath, but i'm not sure if that is the problem, i did recently buy the chiltons book but i didn't get to look it up, i was hoping for some real feedback before i go through the painful task of trouble shooting part by part, bit by bit, you know. Well hope there is someone out there that can help, Thanks!

#26 of 39 Re: 1995 SC2 IDLES TO FAST! [442dude] by cupid12

Jul 01, 2008 (10:10 am)

Replying to: 442dude (Jun 19, 2008 12:03 pm)
I have a question. I have a 1995 Saturn SC2 and the car just died. I had the shop call me and say they believe it is the timing chain. I thought the timing chain was suppose to last the life of the engine.
 
Can you think of anything else that would just make the car die. It turns over, but will not crank.

#27 of 39 Re: 02 sl1 idle problem [blackeywhite] by saturn56

Jul 01, 2008 (10:13 am)

Replying to: blackeywhite (Jul 01, 2008 12:54 am)
This promblem drove me nuts for a long time....In order to solve the same promblem you are going to have to replace the coolant temp sensor....once I did this I have never had any more promblems!...If this sensor goes out it totally screws up your idol......My mechanic put my 1995 sc saturn on the scope....low and behold there was the promblem!!!!!!!!!.....cost me about 100.00 to fix...you can do it yourself for cheaper...
God Bless,
Andy

#28 of 39 Re: 1995 SC2 IDLES TO FAST! [cupid12] by 442dude

Jul 03, 2008 (7:05 pm)

Replying to: cupid12 (Jul 01, 2008 10:10 am)
What makes them "believe" its the timing chain? It literally takes 5 minutes to pop off the cam cover (4 bolts) and actually look at the chain and make that determination...
 
Was the engine making a rattling sound for a little while before it died? If so, it was your timing chain telling you that it needed to be replaced. Also, when the chain breaks, there's a pretty good chance that you may have damaged valves as well.
 
There are lots of reasons why your car would just die...crankshaft position sensor comes to mind as it tells the fuel injectors when to squirt fuel into the motor. No signal, no squirt...Did the check engine light come on? Maybe the answer is in there?
 
The timing chain on the Saturn will last for a long time but has been known to need to be replaced somewhere around 150,000 miles or so in some cases, likely sooner if you have not been absolutely anal about checking the oil level...I checked mine so many times in my SW2 that I was afraid I would wear out the hood latch...
 
Good Luck,
John

#29 of 39 Re: 1995 SC2 IDLES TO FAST! [saturn56] by 442dude

Jul 03, 2008 (7:28 pm)

Replying to: saturn56 (Jun 19, 2008 1:45 pm)
Hi...
 
Glad I could help!
 
John

Messages Page 3 of 4

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