1999 SL with a Cracked Head

[Joseph P. Fellner]

My 1999 SL has developed a cracked head after about 64,500 miles. The cracked occured in the exact spot the Technical Service Bulletin 96-T-65B suggests to look for in the 1991-1997 Saturn vehicles equipped with SOHC engines. Saturn will not pay for this since it is out of warranty. Any other 1999 SL owners with the same problem?

 

[Joseph P. Fellner]

Some more recent events. I had the dealer "fix" this car for around $1900. I kept the cylinder head for evidence. They would not warranty their work since I told them not to replace the radiator hoses, thermostat, and water pump since the COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL and not vice versa. Now, the Technical Service Bulleting 96-T-65B refers to the problem when the oil mixes with the coolant through a cylinder head crack. My question is did the dealer diagnose the coolant leak right? Also, after driving about 50 miles with the new cylinder head, the oil is now leaking into the coolant (like it is suppose too) and coolant is also leaking out from the engine, and the timing chain is making all kinds of noise. I took it to PEP Boys to get some feedback and they think Saturn is royally screwing me and that I should sue their asses. Comments?

 

[Dan Hicks]

Some more recent events. I had the dealer "fix" this car for around $1900. I kept the cylinder head for evidence. They would not warranty their work since I told them not to replace the radiator hoses, thermostat, and water pump since the COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL and not vice versa. Now, the Technical Service Bulleting 96-T-65B refers to the problem when the oil mixes with the coolant through a cylinder head crack. My question is did the dealer diagnose the coolant leak right? Also, after driving about 50 miles with the new cylinder head, the oil is now leaking into the coolant (like it is suppose too) and coolant is also leaking out from the engine, and the timing chain is making all kinds of noise. I took it to PEP Boys to get some feedback and they think Saturn is royally screwing me and that I should sue their asses. Comments?

Sue their asses. You shouldn't have those leaks after a cylinder head job.

 

[Steve]

Comments?

Sue their asses. You shouldn't have those leaks after a cylinder head job.

This (or something very similar) happened to me, too, at just under 64,000 miles (early November 2003). To be more specific (skip to next paragraph if you don't care <grin>): the coolant low pressure light came on. I checked the coolant reservoir and it was low. I bought the appropriate coolant (with DEX cool) per the owner's manual and added about a 2 cup mixture of coolant and water. After about five days, the coolant low pressure light again came on. I added another 2 cup mixture and scheduled an appointment with my Saturn dealer service department. They found and fixed a low pressure condition but no oil in coolant or coolant in oil. Another four or five days and the low coolant light returned. Scheduled another appointment; this time they found coolant in the oil. Service Manager and I discussed and decided to do nothing further, since the recommended engine teardown and fix would likely cost in excess of $2000, probably not worth my spending for a 64,000 mile-old car. Finding this and other, more favorable, postings in USENet, I decided to escalate. Before doing so, I advised the dealer service manager, who suggested I contact Saturn Customer Service. I did so, and within 24 hours was phoned by an Area Manager from Spring Hill offering to pay for parts if I paid for labor to fix the engine. The dealer service department did so, charging me $1025.49 ($936.00 for labor and the rest for various parts, such as the torque axis mount, not related to the cylinder head problem and about which the service manager discussed with me ahead of time). The invoice shows $960.10 in engine parts for which I was not charged. While not pleased about having to pay anything to fix an engine problem that should not have occurred so early in the engine's life, I'm much happier than if I had to pay 11 times that amount for a new car. The engine seems to be running very well.