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Sparks, NV Car Consumer Discussions

GOOD BYE VUE

by gearhead12 on Tue Nov 18 06:37:33 PST 2008

This is a great day. Today I finally got rid of my 2003 Saturn Vue. This vehicle has been trouble since day 1. The Saturn team promotes that they do things differently, and they do, they just don’t do most things better. A few examples of things that have gone wrong: The front suspension sounds like it is falling out of the car and has been to Saturn several times for tightening of bolts…which has NOT fixed the issue. The transmission gives you whiplash every time you put it into DRIVE. The valve covers LEAK like Niagra Falls and the muffler has a hole in it. Now I am somewhat capable of working on a vehicle – I am an Electrical Engineer that auto races as a hobby. I have fixed wrecked cars, and even built my own motors so I am not afraid to dig in and do the work. However, the design of this vehicle is ridiculous and frustrates even the somewhat mechanically capable customers. In reference to the valve covers, the valve covers were leaking and upon initial investigation I thought oh I will just pull the valve cover off and clean the gaskets and re-install. Upon investigating the issue, I found each of the bolts in the valve cover (which I think is plastic) were loose and ready to fall out. I thought oh this must be why they are leaking and snugged them up (did not over tighten). Well the leak was less but still fairly bad. So I went back to investigate removing the valve cover to clean up and re-install. Well much to my surprise YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OFF TO REPLACE THE VALVE COVER AND THE SPARK PLUGS…..Who approved this design – some idiot that never got their hands dirty and has NO knowledge of what customer satisfaction is…..$500 - $600 to replace these parts – WHAT A JOKE………. 2nd Issue – Oil Filter Cover. Went to change the oil and found that the car doesn’t have a standard oil filter can. The motor is designed so that you only have to replace the element which is contained in a housing on the front of the motor. So instead of the $2 oil filter it cost you $6 for the element (remember it’s different – but it’s not better). So after a few oil filter changes I go to remove the oil filter cover and while removing it the cover breaks into 3 pieces. I call Saturn and they say they have plenty of these in stock and they get calls about them all the time. When I show up at the parts department they charge me some outrageous price (~30.00) for a replacement cover. I say to them that don’t you think you should give me the cover for free since it had a design issue (that I noticed was fixed on the new cover) and the attendant just laughs….and says NO…… 3rd Issue – Tranny Clunks Into Drive. This issue started very early in the vehicles life and was defined by the dealer as STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. It’s funny because we were going to trade the vehicle in on a Nissan that was at a Saturn Dealer and the person that evaluated it for trade in said this vehicle has a tranny issue and we said well that’s funny because your staff told us that is standard operating procedure…..Funny that the Saturn Dealer couldn’t get their stories straight (is it a problem or is it Standard Op.) Needless to say we didn’t trade it in their….. 4th, 5th, 6th issue……………….I better stop or I may end up with a book………….. In closing, all I have to say is it is a great day – BYE BYE VUE and YOU WILL NEVER EVER FIND ME AT A SATURN DEALERSHIP AGAIN. And then GM wonders why they are hurting so bad --- I’m not….

95 Protege won't start

by merf888 on Tue Nov 18 02:34:29 PST 2008

I copied this from another post. I have the exact same symptoms. I would greatly appreciate any help. Have a '95 Protege ... just wouldn't start one day. Fuel pump runs when you jump the diagnostic port, EFI and circuit opening/fuel pump relays work and Ohm out correctly. Started hoping it was the timing belt but looks good and turns the camshaft fine. Have compression and spark (although suspiciously weak looking spark ... have new wires, coil, cap and rotor and plugs). Only thing I found which puzzles me is that at the connector port under the seat to the pump, I only get about 6.5 volts with the key on. It should be full battery voltage. I'm not getting any initial prime pulse or fuel pump noise while cranking .. only during the diagnostic jump. I'm about ready to try to start it while jumped just to see if it will start at all. Could this be the PCM module? I'm about to do a fuel pressure test but this has me questioning the fuel pump operation.

Re: SK69 fuel smell [oldfordmech]

by sk69 on Mon Nov 17 19:05:48 PST 2008

Thanks oldfordmech - I certainly looked in the wrong spot but no need anymore. It was a loose spark plug. Might have happened during the 60k service at the dealership but of course can't prove it...

Re: Me too, now with 2 types of vibration [wormrot]

by ktownfootball6 on Fri Jul 20 11:59:04 PDT 2007

i just got my truck back from the mechanic. it turns out all i needed was 6 new spark plugs and the coil replaced. he didn't give me the bill yet but how much can spark plugs cost. the truck is now back to normal. good luck with your truck.

Miata as shelter

by indycmgs on Mon Nov 17 13:12:55 PST 2008

I bought my wife a 99 Miata for our 20th anniversary. I knew I had done the right thing when I noticed that she had waxed it within the first week we had it. Anyway.... We took a two week driving trip to Utah with the kids. The Miata was in the garage the whole time which was opened by the neighbors to feed the cat. When we got back I took the Miata out early the next morning to get a Sunday paper. Car ran fine. Later I started it up to take my son to Church. The engine was skipping badly so I turned around and came home and took another car. After we returned I decided to check under the hood to see if I could tell what was wrong. I noticed pieces of dog food lined up neatly along the cylinder head which seemed odd. Then I saw a pair of beady eyes near the brake master cylinder that clearly told me that I had intruded on someone's personal space. A rat had moved into the engine compartment and was storing dog food for the coming winter. He scampered away and I went to the autoparts store for new spark plug wires. The engine started right up and ran smoothly. I then took the car to the self-serve car wash to clean out the engine compartment. Apparently I did not get all of the dog food because the car had a distinct odor of burnt toast when the engine reached operating temperature. This went away in a few weeks after the dog food in the exhaust manifold burned away. My mechanic says he hears such stories all the time. We have since disposed of the intruder and I shiver when I think of my trip to the store to get the newspaper with the rat holding on in the engine compartment for dear life. I was relieved that he did not crawl into the heating vents and appear at my feet while I was driving! Who knew that the Miata was so attractive as a home for the winter?

Engine Problems =S

by mavswimmer on Mon Nov 17 11:27:40 PST 2008

I definitely was driving it hard, but not pushing the rpm's over 5.5k...i dont think its the timing belt, because i can hear the knock and taps coming directly from the engine block, i also think i fouled atleast1, maybe 2 spark plugs, because cylinders are not firing...plus the knock, yes, when rpm's increase the knock increases with them, thats why im wondering if its valve/piston/rod issues... :confuse: :sick: