Saturn SL overheating problems

Filed Jun 26, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · CA

The fbi was my first choice. The car overheats from a cold start after I just filled up the coolant and drove the car for a few feet in 2 minutes from start. The coolant was already overflowing. I noticed something was eating the battery load when this happened another time making the car lose power when I checked the reading on the cars installed voltmeter. This after driving for about a mile. This extreme hot tempreture causes the coolant to boil and overflow even if I aid it with a rewired radiator fan on I have replaced the thermostat and the waterpump a couple of times. Please help captain america. The receipt from the attached file is the latest.this car is possessed.

Filed Feb 27, 2006 · Engine · 150,000 miles · MD

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 75 MPH the vehicle overheated. This was on the highway and there was nowhere to pull over. The vehicle was driven home and there was steam coming from under the hood. The contact determined the accessory belt had come loose and replaced the belt and belt tensioner.

Filed Jan 11, 2006 · Electrical · PA · fire

Ignition switch failed to start car. After a few tries, the car finally started only to have mounds of smoke rolling out from under the dash. After turning the vehicle off, the switch worked intermittently. We removed dash covers and ignition cylinder lock, and lowered the steering wheel to find that the wiring harness leading to the ignition switch had what was a black wire that was melted bare for a couple inches, and disfigured the entire wire, and melted the insulation to other wires within the harness. Judging by the damage of done to the wire, it appears that the most heat was in an area where the wire was closest to the steering column, leading one to believe that it wore through and grounded itself to the steering column, which LED to the overheating of the wire and subsequent smoke/fire.

Filed Nov 22, 2005 · Engine · 44,300 miles · CA

1999 saturn sl1 44300 miles on it. 3-4 weeks ago coolant light came on. Checked coolant level was fine but milky subs floating on top. Checked with radiator shop, suggested flush system and replace coolant. 2 weeks later oil light came on. Checked oil, none on dip stick (3 weeks after oil change). Added oil and vehicle was driven about 15-20 miles and began to overheat. Vehicle was towed to saturn of monrovia where they found a cracked block. Dealership and saturn corp. Are not willing to cover fixing the problem even though they know there are still problems with these engines. Earlier models had warranties extended to 6 year/100,000 miles. Saturn corp. Stated that vehicle was past that warranty and I am out of luck. I think that saturn should fix the problem at their expense as they know of the defects but continue to do nothing about it. I don't think I should have to pay almost $2,000 to have this defect fixed. I do have receipts since I have owned the vehicle (less then a year) and my brother owned the veh. Prior but didn't use saturn except twice to service the vehicle since they were not close to his residence while he lived in texas.

Filed Sep 12, 2005 · Engine · 48,000 miles · AR

I purchased my saturn sl2 4-door brand new in 1999 with only 10 miles on it. It was a perfect car until it overheated one day. I called the dealership service department and they told me to use only dex-cool in my engine. So I walked and purchased some and went on my way. Since that time my engine continuously gets overheated, I have had to replace the water pump, the radiator cap and now the dealership has told me that I have a cracked radiator head with warped gaskets which will cost too much for me due to my being on disability. My car only has 94,000 miles on it and I have it serviced regularly. I feel that dex-cool or the dealership should be held responsible in fixing my vehicle to no fault of my own.

Filed Mar 18, 2005 · Engine, Transmission · VA

While driving transmission failed with no warning. *ak while driving, the vehicle all of a sudden overheated and stalled. The consumers mechanic told her the intake manifold was severely damaged.

Filed Mar 2, 2005 · Engine · GA

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?

Filed Oct 28, 2004 · Engine · 84,600 miles · NV

Defect details: design flaw in the engine cylinder head assembly causes cracks in the cylinder head. Allows motor oil to leak into the cooling system/radiator mixing with engine coolant in the engine coolant recovery reservoir. Makes the car run hot, result in overheating with potential to result in crashes. Solution: to replace cylinder head assembly gm/saturn response: complaint filed with gm on september 10, 2004 via written letter. Gm response to that letter was a courtesy call to "thank" us for our "feedback" and how it will be put in a database for their engineers to utilize in future design. What a joke. No help or resolution offered. No recall or any other notice was sent verbally or in writing to us. Refused to stand behind their defective product. Had prior knowledge of defect and failed to disclose to us. Amounts to fraudulent business and unfair trade practices. Gm/saturn knew about this flaw in 1997 saturn sl-1 when they sold the car to us, but never disclosed it and never offered to fix it. Refer to bulletin number 96t65 and bulletin date: november 1996 on http://www.edmunds.com. In the last 12 months, our car had to be brought to a mechanic twice due to "close to overheating". The car is 7 1/2 years old and has less than 85,000 miles on it with oil changes on time & all recommended maint. On time. Since gm/saturn dealership in reno, nevada did not offer to fix the defect, we got it fixed by another mechanic. Cost = $1827.25. We believe this is fraudulent business practice on part of gm/saturn to knowingly sell their defective car to consumers without disclosing this at the time of sale and never offering to fix the defect eventhough it may cause accidents and put safety of the occupants at risk. We are seeking for reimbursement of the cost of repairing this known defective product from gm. A copy of that request will be mailed to you separately. We hope your agency has the authority and passion to do something about it.

Filed Sep 8, 2004 · Engine · CA

Upon starting the vehicle it overheated. Once turning it off, and upon trying to start it again, idle dropped to zero, and vehicle stalled intermittently. Also, dash lights illuminated. Consumer contacted the dealer more than four times for this problem. Dealer stated that there was a bad sensor. However, problem recurred.

Filed Sep 5, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · 96,910 miles · CA

Purchased the saturn sl1 in sept 24 of 2004 with 94,32 0miles. I had the oil changed that very same day. I 've kept up on all fluids and service religiousily. At 96910 miles the car would not go into 1st, 3rd or reverse without force. On 9/10/03 I had the clutch replaced and the slave cable. Then is when it started having problems overheating, mechanic did two diffrent diagnostic test both came back with no conclusions. The car still heats up everyday ,but I have no other car to drive. There is no power in the car now and the oil is sludge filled. I've purchased temperature sending units, both o2 sensors, thermostat, coolant,clutch,relays,etc...to try to solve the problem of the over heating. Pretty much it's a matter of time before I'm like the other 1996 saturn drivers who will have to pay the $ 1000.00-2000.00 to fix my head gasket that was a known factory defect. What can we do.