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Saturn Sky - Brakes Problem

42 messages,  Last post on Feb 17, 2013 at 9:00 PM

You are in the Saturn Sky Forum.

What is this discussion about? Saturn Sky, Car Safety, Convertible

Messages Page 5 of 5

#32 of 42 They're link isn't translating. See NHTSA findings pasted below by medicup

Jun 28, 2008 (4:08 pm)

Sorry, the link won't connect. I've pasted the report below.
 
NHTSA Action Number: NHTSA Recall Campaign Number:
                     PE08016 N/A
Make: SATURN Model: SKY
Manufacturer : GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
Year : 2008
Component :
 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
  SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC
  SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
  
Date Investigation Opened : March 6, 2008
Date Investigation Closed : June 24, 2008
Summary:
 IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2007, PONTIAC SOLSTICE AND SATURN SKY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 2.0L TURBOCHARGED ENGINE USED AN AUXILIARY VACUUM PUMP TO SUPPLEMENT THE ENGINE AS A SOURCE OF VACUUM TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER DURING LOW VACUUM CONDITIONS, SUCH AS IMMEDIATELY AFTER A COLD START. THE VACUUM PUMP OPERATION WAS CONTROLLED BY SWITCHES THAT SENSED BOOSTER VACUUM, TURNING THE PUMP ON WHEN BOOSTER VACUUM DROPPED BELOW A SPECIFIED LEVEL. IN THE MY 2008 SOLSTICE AND SKY VEHICLES (THE SUBJECT VEHICLES), GENERAL MOTORS (GM) ELIMINATED THE AUXILIARY VACUUM PUMP AND REPLACED IT WITH THE OPTIMIZED HYDRAULIC BRAKING (OHB) SYSTEM. THE DESIGN INTENT OF OHB IS TO SUPPLEMENT ENGINE VACUUM, IN CONDITIONS WHERE LOW VACUUM IS GENERATED BY THE ENGINE, WITH HYDRAULIC PRESSURE GENERATED BY THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM PUMP CONTROLLED BY THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE (EBCM). FOR UP TO ABOUT A MINUTE AFTER A COLD START, WHEN THE SYSTEM IS IN OHB ASSIST MODE, THE DRIVER MUST PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO ACHIEVE DESIRED DECELERATION. ALSO, WHEN THE OHB MODE IS ACTIVATED, THE DRIVER CAN HEAR AND FEEL, THROUGH BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATION, THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM PUMP OPERATION. STARTING IN LATE APRIL 2008, GM CHANGED FROM THE OHB SYSTEM BACK TO THE VACUUM PUMP SYSTEM DESIGN. ODI IS AWARE OF 264 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS TO ODI AND GM ALLEGING INADEQUATE BRAKE POWER ASSIST IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES JUST AFTER A COLD START, INCLUDING ONE INCIDENT INVOLVING A CRASH INTO A TREE DURING A DRIVEWAY MANEUVER. TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS BY CONSUMERS, GM HAS ISSUED THREE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. ON JUNE 4, 2007, GM RELEASED AN INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN (NO PART REPLACEMENT OR SOFTWARE UPDATES), BULLETIN# 07-05-22-002, TO DEALERS EXPLAINING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE OHB SYSTEM. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2007, GM RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN, BULLETIN# 07-05-22-007, WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO RECALIBRATE THE EBCM WITH REVISED SOFTWARE TO MAKE OHB OPERATION FEEL MORE LIKE A NORMAL VACUUM ASSIST SYSTEM. TO IMPROVE COLD START BRAKING PERFORMANCE COMPARABLE TO MY 2007 VEHICLES, GM RELEASED A THIRD SERVICE BULLETIN IN TWO PARTS, BULLETINS 07-05-25-007A (APRIL 29, 2008) AND 07-05-25-007B (MAY 16, 2008), FOR AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES RESPECTIVELY. THESE BULLETINS RELEASED NEW ENGINE CONTROL SOFTWARE TO CHANGE THE IDLE STRATEGY AFTER A COLD START SO THAT MORE VACUUM IS AVAILABLE FOR BRAKE POWER ASSIST. BEGINNING THE WEEK OF JUNE 23, 2008, GM WILL BEGIN SENDING LETTERS TO CONSUMERS TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF MOST RECENT CALIBRATION. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST. THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

#33 of 42 Although I don't own a Saturn Sky... by iluvmysephia1

Jun 29, 2008 (10:18 am)

I have been following this thread and the Pontiac Solstice thread about this brake problem. I would agree, if you own one of these, you're gonna have to get aggressive about it and find out what your dealer is planning to do to make this problem right for you.
 
Nobody should have to wait for their car to warm up two minutes before they take off. Imagine a parking valet not getting that important little tidbit of information and getting in to an accident with your Sky or Solstice?
 
You've all paid enough money for your cars that you deserve a safe, well running Sky and Solstice. I wouldn't wait, I'd call your dealers and get them cracking on this ASAP. I'd be on it like a Gary Payton steal of Michael Jordan and a layup at the other end kissed gently off the Sonic's glass for two points, gentlemen.

#34 of 42 Re: NHTSA finished evaluation [medicup] by carguy916

Jun 29, 2008 (10:24 am)

Replying to: medicup (Jun 28, 2008 4:05 pm)
I took my Sky RL in to the dealer Friday. Got my oil change for $60, and had them do the software calibration. The next morning was the big test for the brakes. Turned the engine on, immediately put it in reverse and crossed my fingers. It is improved, there was some braking power, at least enough for me to slow down and avoid the garage door frame. The brakes still feel a little bit funny, I will still make it a habit to warm up the car before backing up. Hey Saturn.... you have come a long way, but you are not done with the brake fix!

#35 of 42 Re: Now no brakes while using cruise control!! [medicup] by jodenessky

Jun 29, 2008 (1:47 pm)

Replying to: medicup (Jun 28, 2008 3:38 pm)
If you go to skyroadster.com and look up brake problems you can see all of the threads that have to do with the problem I had with my 08 Sky. It took 5 times to the dealer before they put on the pump. I must have had the worst case because they fixed mine first as far as I know. Two times while driving over 70 miles an hour the brakes were ROCK hard while trying to disengage cruise control. VERY SCARY! As far as start up brake problems it happened EVERY time I started the car, ROCK hard brakes that would not stop the vehicle. Now I have no problems what so ever. You could contact Tony at Saturn of Henderson. He is the one who finally got my car fixed.

#36 of 42 Re: Now no brakes while using cruise control!! [jodenessky] by busiris

Jun 29, 2008 (5:46 pm)

Replying to: jodenessky (Jun 29, 2008 1:47 pm)
And GM still wonders why it continues to loose market share to the competition...

#37 of 42 Re: Now no brakes while using cruise control!! [jodenessky] by denbeck222

Jul 22, 2008 (8:23 am)

Replying to: jodenessky (Jun 26, 2008 7:24 am)
WE BOUGHT A NEW 2008 SKY AT SATURN OF HICKORY AND WE ALSO ARE HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR BACK AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR.THEY REALLY MAKE YOU FEEL QUITE STUPID!!!! I DONT KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO BUT WE ARE NOT VERY HAPPY WITH THE CAR OR WITH SATURN OF HICKORY.

#38 of 42 Got the brake fix...... mostly by medicup

Jul 22, 2008 (6:38 pm)

I was doing some poking around at the NHTSA site and found the investigation findings for the Saturn brake problem. According to them, Saturn issued three software updates beginning last November to address the brake problems. Supposedly Saturn would begin notifying owners in July. I called Saturn of El Paso the next day and requested they "do the brake software update". I was immediately met with "that's how the brakes are supposed to work... blah blah blah". I informed the "service manager" of the NHTSA's findings and that I would be bringing my car down the next day, FIND THE UPDATE FROM YOUR COMPANY! When I arrived the next day with a printout of the NHTSA stuff (which has the update numbers and such) I was met with, "I'm sorry, I didn't know they had issued those, we'll get right on it.". 45 minutes later I left with the software updates completed. I will admit the brakes are much better. You can still feel "something a little funny" during the cold start-immediate braking but nothing near as bad as it was. One of the software updates also tweaks the idle settings on the automatic which makes the brake adjustments more effective.
 
So...... call your local Saturn, tell them to pull their head out and get your software updated. I got my letter "notifying" me of the updates the day after I had the update done.
 
Happier with the car, still not ready to forgive Saturn for the whole fiasco though.
 
Good luck and stay safe
WW

#39 of 42 Re: Got the brake fix...... mostly [medicup] by jodenessky

Jul 27, 2008 (9:32 pm)

Replying to: medicup (Jul 22, 2008 6:38 pm)
It took us 5 times in the shop before they figured out how to fix my car, and on the 6th time it was fixed. I have never gotten a letter in the mail from Saturn about updates. Whole thing was a horrible headache, but now that my car has brakes that work as they should I am pleased with my car and will keep it.

#41 of 42 2007 saturn sky redline by lynann

Feb 17, 2013 (1:11 pm)

i need recall list on 2007 saturn sky redline

Messages Page 5 of 5

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