2002 SL2- less than a lemon

I had a brand new 97 Outback that blew an engine at 500 miles because a valve broke, fell into the cylinder and mangled it. Luckily it was covered under warranty. But I couldn't get them to give me a new car - they actually replaced the engine. Yes, strange stuff happens, even to nice people. We all take our chances when the warranty runs out. Are extended warranties worth it? Not until something like this happens.

I would have Saturn explain, however, how it managed to both run out of oil AND fail to give a low oil pressure warning simultaneously. It seems more likely to me that it was just a bad rod or bearing, rather than two highly unlikely things happening at the same time. If you can show they changed the oil at regular intervals and never found it excessively low, or any leaks, you may be able to get them to admit that it wasn't lack of oil. But regardless, they really don't have to do anything for you if the warranty has run out. The only hope you may have is if you had just picked it up after an oil change and then it blew, but you should still get a warning light. Have they checked the pressure sensor to see if it is working properly? You could also have it towed to an independent repair shop and get their diagnosis. But the bottom line is, if it's out of warranty, they don't have to help you at all. Probably the best you could hope for would be a reduction of labor cost or something.

This is exactly why it is wise to change oil and filter every 3K miles and to check the oil every 1K miles at minimum to make sure it is full. This still may not have prevented your major engine failure, but it would have increased your odds by about 10 to 1 of getting at least double the miles you did.

Live and learn. Checking oil and changing it frequently are cheap insurance.

Bob

I think owners manuals say to check your oil at the same time you get gas or something to that effect. I guess Saturns have the same problems Honda's do with no oil light warnings. I was working on a Honda that set a code for the VVT (variable valve timing). No other lights on the dash and the car would start and run. I started to leave the shop to run a "By the Book" diagnosis until it stalled out on me. At that time it dawned on me to check the oil because the VVT works off of Oil Pressure. Well to my suprise there wasnt a drop of oil on the DIPSTICK!

I put 4 quarts of oil in a 4.3 quart system to get to the Full mark. Mind you there was no "Oil light" the entire time this car was running on .3 quarts of oil. Ever since then before I begin work on someone elses car I check the oil since most people seem to inept to do it themselves...

Sorry 'bout your problems, the old SLs were good cars. We have 7 S-series in my family, and have has problems with only the one that the teenagers drive. Why? Failure to check out the fluids your own dang self in between service at Saturn. It is your required responsibility. You DO need to check your own fluids periodically. Failure to do so in ANY vehicle can have catastrophic results as you unfortunately found out.

Sure, Ive heard the tired-a** old story "well, I never did anything to my old (insert brand here), and it ran forever". All you are doing is living on borrowed time and slowly killing a good car.

Unfortunately, things do happen and yes, the manual does say for you to check your oil at gas fill-ups or periodically; it does not say never to check your oil and fluids yourself and rely solely upon your 3000 mi. changes. That (and Im not being mean) is your responsibility and your fault alone. Had you checked your oil periodically, this (and Im agreeing with you that it should have never happened) could have been averted BEFORE you ran low on oil and threw a rod.

btw - quote "We received a letter from Saturn stating that the vehicle is made of man made materials and that they can fail at times." Hmm, reeaaaaly? That's funny, lol.

Again, being honest, not trying to be mean. marx404

blah blah typed until their fingers bled, and came up with:

with the very unusual exception of the new Porsche, which has no dipstick... Few cars have a true "low oil level" light. They have a low oil PRESSURE light. you can get enough pressure in the system with very little volume. In a Saturn, the oil light should be replaced with a dollar sign, because if it comes on, you?re going to be buying a new engine.

I wassss refering to the oil "pressure" light. I dont think Honda's have ever heard of oil level indicators but you still should not rely on them. Of course Porsche would expect yuppies to...now you want to talk about a costly replacement? At least I can find good Saturn engines at local salvage yards for a couple hundred bucks. Good luck finding a Porsche motor at all...

I'm going to rip into this post some more now to pass some time...

Gee I guess oil cant be burned through the combustion chamber and expelled out of the exhaust.

Somehow I doubt "Saturn" sent such a letter and after 74k miles I dont think they're required to hold your hand anymore. Deal with the responsibilities of owning a car. Pop the hood and look at things.

Joke? The biggest joke is he never read his owners manual and must have thought he bought a toaster. Just repeat this sentance to yourself - Cars are not appliances. Cars are not appliances. Cars are not appliances. Cars are not appliances. Once everyone learns that we'll all be better off.

Blowing off Steam, Blah Blah

blah blah typed until their fingers bled, and came up with:

and as long as there is enough oil in the engine to flow through the pump, there is enough pressure in the system to keep the light from coming on. You cannot rely on a pressure light to determine oil level.

Hence what I was conveying in my message.