1994 SATURN SL Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

IN JAN. 1998 MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AND CRACKED MY ENGINE AND VALVE COVER. PRIOR TO THIS I DID TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHO STATES TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT OR NEW ENGINE IF TIMING CHAIN BREAKS. BEING THAT MY SATURN SL2 WAS A 1994 IT WAS FUNNY THAT SO SOON TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS OCCURRED. MY TIMING CHAIN DID BREAK, AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED INTIL 2001 BY THE LOCAL DEALER WITH A USED ENGINE THAT LEAKED OIL EVERY WHERE I PARKED, MY COMPLAINTS YIELDED NO RESULTS. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR WHICH BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, COOLING FAN FAILED AND IN AUGUST 2004, THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE OTHER USED ENGINE STARTED TO RATTLE AND ALSO BROKE, SO TODAY I AM CARLESS AND DON'T KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE SATURN TIMING CHAINS. IS THERE AN INVESTIGATION ONGOING?*AK

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE SENSORS HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO TROUBLE SHOOT, CAN'T FIND A REASON SO IT IS NOT FIXED JUST KEEP AC ON ALWAYS. CAR VIBRATES AND CAN'T FIND A REASON STILL LOOKING FOR PROBLEM, VIBRATES SO MUCH BODY PARTS ON FRONT ARE BECOMING MISALIGNED! AND IT SEEMS THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FUNNY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND THEN STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING APX. 1 MILE. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY FRIEND HAS ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM

AIR BAG LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING, REPLACED 2 OF THE COMPONENETS UNDER THE DASH ONE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE UP IN THE CORNER AND THE OTHER UP BEHIND THE GLOVE BOX. COOLING FAN DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY MUST KEEP THE AC ON FOR THE FAN TO WORK. A FRIEND OF MINE HAS THE SAME CAR AND HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. TRIED TO FIX BY REPLACING THE SENSORS HAD A MECHANIC TRY TO TROUBLE SHOOT, CAN'T FIND A REASON SO IT IS NOT FIXED JUST KEEP AC ON ALWAYS. CAR VIBRATES AND CAN'T FIND A REASON STILL LOOKING FOR PROBLEM, VIBRATES SO MUCH BODY PARTS ON FRONT ARE BECOMING MISALIGNED! AND IT SEEMS THE AUTO-TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FUNNY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND THEN STAYS ON AFTER DRIVING APX. 1 MILE. CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY FRIEND HAS ALL THE SAME COMPLAINTS. *NM

VEHICLE WILL RUN HOT WITH CAUSE OF ACTUAL FAILURE NOT INDICATED. SEVERAL ITEMS WERE REPLACED BY A MECHANIC IN WHICH VEHICLE HAS BLOWN A HEAD GASKET, AND STILL RUNS HOT. VEHICLE IS NOW NON-DRIVABLE, PARKED AT IMPACT AUTO. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.AK

CYLINDER HEAD CRACKED. THIS COULD RESULT IN SUDDEN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THIS IS A RESULT OF A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I FOUND SEVERAL OTHER INSTANCES THROUGH INTERNET RESEARCH. MANUFACTURER NOT HELPFUL IN RESOLVING ISSUE.

I FEEL THAT SATURN MADE A LEMON AND I BOUGHT IT! I HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO MY SALES PERSON. HE REFUSED TO TAKE MY PHONE CALLS. SATURN REFUSES TO GIVE ME THE NAMES OF THE "HIGHER-UPS" IN WHICH TO BRING MY GRIEVANCES TOO. I FEEL THERE ARE TOO MANY MAJOR REPAIRS FOR ONLY 29,000 MILES THAT I HAVE PUT ON THIS CAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TO DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR ANOTHER PROBLEM. DEALER INDICATED THAT MOTOR MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED OR INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND ALL RECOMMENDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. THIS IS A HIGHLY UNUSUAL SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES FOR FAILURE OF A MOTOR MOUNT. REVIEW OF USENET INTERNET NEWSGROUPS INDICATES THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND WELL-KNOWN TO DEALERS. APPARENT CAUSE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN, NOW SUPPLANTED BY A STRENGTHENED DESIGN IN THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, WITH NO ADMISSION OF FAULT BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE DEFICIENT DESIGN IN THE ORIGINAL.

VEHICLE OVERHEATS AND CONSUMES OIL BECAUSE A HEATING CHIP HAS MELTED DUE TO OVERHEATING. MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

SATURN RELUCTANT TO COMMENT ON IF PROBLEMS WERE OF FACTORY DEFECTS, THEREFORE EVERYTHING WAS PAID FOR IN FULL (EXTREME AMOUNTS) BY MYSELF. ALSO, THE PRODUCTS, AFTER REPLACED FAILED WITHIN ONE MONTH AFTER THE "WARRANTY" EXPIRED. SATURN REFUSED TO COMPENSATE . NOS AFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

WITH NO INDICATION, ENGINE WAS SHORT 3 OR MORE QUARTS OF OIL CAUSING A POSSIBLE FAILURE OF LIFTERS AND/OR VALVES. OIL WARNING LIGHT FUNCTIONS WHEN STARTING THE CAR. VEHICLE IS NOT USABLE AND MAY REQUIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. WE HAVE HEARD THIS SAME PROBLEM FROM TWO OTHER SOURCES WHO HAVE SATURNS. OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AT 3,000 MILE INTERVALS SINCE WE PURCHASED. DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM WHEN TAKEN FOR OIL CHANGE.

HEAD GASKET FAILED PREMATURELY. NLM

MY CAR'S TIMING CHAIN AND ASSEMBLY EXPLODED KILLING THE ENGINE OF THE SATURN SL1 I HAVE OWNED FOR LESS THAN ONE YEAR. THE EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN WAS 12 MONTHS OR 12,000 MILES AND I HAVE DRIVEN ABOUT 15,000 MILES. THE CAR HAD ABOUT 65,000 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT FROM SATURN OF LEWISVILLE. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A SATURN DEALER CALLED SATURN OF IRVING IN TEXAS. I FEEL THAT SATURN HAS A MEASURE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. I CAN NOT FIND ALL MY RECEIPTS BUT DO HAVE SOME SHOWING MAINTENANCE I HAVE DONE AND THE EMMISSIONS TEST RESULTS FROM 12/29/99. I HAVE BEEN TALKING WITH SATURN SINCE 2/24/00. SATURN SENT A SAMPLE OF THE OIL FOR TESTING ON 2/25/00 WITH A PROMISE OF RESULTS WITHIN A WEEK. I AM STILL WAITING! I HAVE A WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM A FIRESTONE ON THE INITIAL CONDITION OF THE CAR AFTER THE FAILURE AS THEY WERE THE FIRST TO SEE THE CAR. *AK

CALIF. REQUIRED THE RECALL OF 1994 SATURNS DUE TO FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. I CALLED SATURN AND THEY USE THE DATE OF PURCHASE AS A REASON NOT TO COMPLY. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 1995 WITH OVER 300 MILES ON IT. ALSO, I NOTICED ONE TIME WHEN I WAS HAVING ANOTHER PROBLEM TO REPAIR, SATURN HAD REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THE WORK FORM. I WATCHED THE REPAIR AND NO ONE TOUCHED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. SATURN IS NOT COMPLYING WITH CALIF. RECALL COMPLETELY BY USING PURCHASE DATE INSTEAD OF MFG. DATE. CALIF. DEPT. OF AIR RESOURCES AND AUTO REPAIR ASK ME TO NOTIFY NTSA. THE RECALL WAS NOV. 22,1999. THIS CAR HAS BEEN MARGINAL ON SMOG READINGS. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU CHECKING THIS OUT. THANK YOU. *AK

TIMING CHAIN FAILED. NLM

RE: BRAKES; I GET A THROBBING, PULSING SENSATION EVEN THOUGH THERE IS PLENTY OF PAD LEFT; RE: SEATS; SEAT IS LOOSE AND MANY TIMES THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HAS COLLAPSED BACKWARD WHEN I PUT SOME PRESSURE ON IT, I.E. PUTTING MY HAND INTO MY POCKET TO GET TOLL BRIDGE CHANGE; RE: RADIATOR; IT IS RUSTED, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PROPERLY SERVIED THE CAR W/ RCOMMENDED SERVICING (DEALER FOUND THE PROBLEM BUT DID NOT WANT FIX)

VEHICLE RUNS HOT AND NEEDS A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1K MILES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HEAD GASKET CRACKED CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE COMPONENTS. MJS

TIMING CHAIN FAILED. MJS

VALVES, GASKETS AND SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED. MJS

VALVES, GASKETS AND SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED. MJS

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY CAR AND TWO OTHERS THAT I AM AWARE OF WORE THROUGH THE PLASTIC GUIDES, CAUSING METAL TO GET INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSING AN ENGINE SEIZURE RUINING THE ENGINE. IT HAPPENED TO ALL THREE CARS WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. ONE ENGINE HAD 58,000 MILES AND MINE HAS 62,000 MILES . THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER BOTH SAY IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A NEW ONE OR A USED ONE AT MY EXPENSE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM IF I KNOW OF TWO OTHERS THAT FAILED FOR THE SAME REASON. CAN YOU HELP? WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? *AK

THE TIMING CHAIN ON MY CAR AND TWO OTHERS THAT I AM AWARE OF WORE THROUGH THE PLASTIC GUIDES, CAUSING METAL TO GET INTO THE ENGINE AND CAUSING AN ENGINE SEIZURE RUINING THE ENGINE. IT HAPPENED TO ALL THREE CARS WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. ONE ENGINE HAD 58,000 MILES AND MINE HAS 62,000 MILES . THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER BOTH SAY IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH A NEW ONE OR A USED ONE AT MY EXPENSE. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE IS AN ENGINEERING PROBLEM IF I KNOW OF TWO OTHERS THAT FAILED FOR THE SAME REASON. CAN YOU HELP? WHAT ELSE CAN I DO? *AK

TIMING CHAIN BROKE, CAUSING LOUD NOISE. ALSO, THERE IS SOME PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE AS A WHOLE DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN BELT BREAKING. *AK

OIL IS IN MY RADIATOR FLUID. PROBABLY A CRACKED ENGINE HEAD. *AK

BROKEN ROCKER SHAFT CAUSED CAR TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY.

SAFETY ISSUE, CAR STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN TIMING CHAIN BROKE

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WILL COME OFF AND ON, AND THE OIL IS LEAKING OUT OF THE PISTONS. WHEN THE CONSUMER TAKES OFF,SMOKE COMES OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, TIMING BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER MOTOR. SATURN AGREED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OIL. *AK

VEHICLE WOULD LEAK OIL INTO THE SPARK PLUGS. ENGINE HEAD GASKETS SEALING IS NOT RETAINING THE OIL. *AK *ML

WHILE DRIVING HEARD NOISE. RACK& PINION STEERING FAILED. PROBLEM WAS FIXED, BUT IT REOCCURRED. *AK TIMING CHAIN FAILED. *SLC

SEAT BELTS MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AND THEY WON'T OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. ALSO, SUN ROOF AND SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED/ NOISY ENGINE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. IN ADDITION, REPLACED EGR VALVE AND CANISTER. *AK

SEAT BELTS MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AND THEY WON'T OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. ALSO, SUN ROOF AND SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED/ NOISY ENGINE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. IN ADDITION, REPLACED EGR VALVE AND CANISTER. *AK

SEAT BELTS MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AND THEY WON'T OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. ALSO, SUN ROOF AND SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED/ NOISY ENGINE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. IN ADDITION, REPLACED EGR VALVE AND CANISTER. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW/ENGINE HEAD CRACKED. TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW/ENGINE HEAD CRACKED. TEMPERATURE GAUGE DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD POP OUT OF GEAR.

LOOSE BOLT INSIDE THE ENGINE CAME OFF AND BROKE THE REAR SHAFT/ROCKER ARM.

LOOSE BOLT INSIDE THE ENGINE CAME OFF AND BROKE THE REAR SHAFT/ROCKER ARM.

EGR VALVE FAILED RESULTING IN HESITATION.

SERPENTINE BELT FAILED CAUSING NOISE.

VEHICLE ENGINE OVERHEATED BECAUSE THE OIL EVAPORATED QUICKLY.DEALER REBUILT ENGINE. *AK

ENGINE FAILURE; ALSO, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

TIMING CHAIN FAILED.

DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP; ALSO, POWER STEERING MOTOR/SEAT BELT/TIMING CHAIN/FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. *AK

OWNER STATES THAT THE UPPER MOTOR MOUNTS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THAT VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT SATURN IS AWRE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY ARE REDESIGNING SOME OF THEIR MODELS. *AK

VEHICLE BACKFIRES. *SD

TIMING CHAIN NOISE. *SD

ENGINE VALVES STICKING DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP. *SKD

VEHICLE IS LOSING OIL. *AK

ENGINE VALVES FAILED, CAUSING A LEAK. *AK

CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. *AK