Saturn SL2 Died away from Home/ Please comment

Yesterday I drove from Upstate NY to Long Island

My destination was made and then car died. Each time I started the
car
it would die when I drove a few feet. (More later about this)
I called towing service $650 plus tolls to get my car home, forget
this.
I called vehicle donation program to take car away. No way must have
title. I said I do not carry it in my car. Oh no what should I do.
Thank GOD I was very close to ADVANCE AUTO.


I spent 8 hours fixing transmission line leak. Lost 3 quarts of oil.
Real leak was oil transmission oil filter, Finally no leaks but:


When I drive the car it would die when I would hit the brake pedal.
So
I drove and would use hand brake to go down the street.


So I drove to a service station that night and asked if they can take
a look.
I said perhaps can not be fixed tonight so Mechanic said he will
disable Brake pedal switch.
Okay we talked for a few min I said do not bother we can pull fuse.
He was great only 10 dollars for one hour. Long Island is great


I was on my way. Another couple of problems. Signal light and flasher
would also make engine spit sputter and almost die. So I avoided
using
them.


At last I made it home
Today a new day clean all oil off of front of transmission area. Open
up wiring harness. No oil in harness. Clean all wires to transmission
and oh boy no more problem.


Not exactly sure why car is running with no problems. I put the fuse
back for the brake lights and still no problem.


Anybody have a clue what happened ?
All day today car is running fine.
Should I trust this car again?

 

Have the battery and alternator tested. I know some automotive stores do
this for no charge. Very weird things can happen if the electrical system
is having problems.


It's good to hear you didn't get rid of the car. It is always cheaper to
fix what you own rather than buy something else (assuming what you buy is in
a better condition). I'll never understand how some people justify getting
rid of a car over a "too expensive" repair when the alternative is spending
20x - 100x as much on a new car.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

 

dave, what year SL2? Have you had a shop check for codes? it's very easy and
could tell what your issue is.

 

<snip>

I agree with you 100% on this, but there are a lot of people who are
afraid that if they dump a large amount in, that there will then be a
catastrophic failure within a short time and their money and the repair
will wave goodbye!

My problem is just the opposite, I tend to dump parts and time into
things that are not worth it. I spent hours a year ago putting a new
floor into my Ford F-150, but the frame was really too rusty to justify
such and I had to junk the truck a few months ago when the truck became
too unsafe to drive.

 

Sounds like the battery is not getting charged and is so bad a little extra
load drops the voltage too low. Alternator and/or battery problem.
Fred

 

probably bat and alernator.. especiallly if you where throwing oil up
at the alternator