Suggested repairs

Since my '99 SL2 has been going strong for 6 years with no major
problems (2 sets of front discs, 1 set of rear drums, 2 sets of motor
mounts, 4 tires) and I'm about to hit 100k this week, I took it into
the dealership to get a once over to see what they thought I needed.
Since I haven't had to do much to this car, I was wondering what was
real, what was possible to do myself, and what was dealer profit.

Suggested repairs:

1) Fuel Filter
2) Wire set (spark plug wires?)
3) Serpentine belt
4) T/A mount (I think they want to replace the motor mounts again, how
critical is it if the motor mounts are worn?)
5) Throttle body and decarbonization service (pure profit???)
6) Power steering flush
7) 30k service (coolant flush, oil change, transmission fluid change,
tire rotation & balance, spark plugs)

I feel pretty confident that I could tackle the spark plugs and wires
(if I had to). Not really willing to change the automatic transaxle
fluid (I don't want the mess.) Dealer wants to charge $1089 for the
whole mess.

Any ideas?

Girmann

 

Big time rip-off. Do you want to "flush" you hard earned money down
your dealers ..... Change your fuel filter (expensive every 100K)
your fluids, filters, and spark plugs if you haven't already. Tranny
drains just like the motor and the filter is under the air box. If
your willing to get you hands a little dirty you can save yourself
$800.00. but if your money grows on trees go for it.

Steve

 

As Steve says, the trasnmission fluid is a cinch. It's much easier than
the oil and filter on this car.

The torque axis mount (which you've already had done) may need to be
done again. You will notice a big difference if it is indeed bad. You
can do it with a jack and a deep socket (I forget the size).

The serpentine belt is simple. All you need is a socket handle (no
sockets).

Throttle body cleaning is probably a good idea, but you can do that
yourself in ten minutes for the price of a can of cleaner.

Spark plugs are trivial, especially if you're already replacing the wires.

I've never done a power steering flush. I wonder if that's recommended
in the owner's manual. If not, I'd skip it.

Coolant flush & oil change aren't that hard if you have the stuff to do it.

Same with tire rotation.

I've never done the fuel filter, as it's a pricey item. Last time I
asked the guys at the Saturn dealer, they said it wasn't something that
normally needed changing on this car.

 

My biggest worry is that I don't have many of the tools needed for many
of these repairs, nor would I know what to do with the stuff once I got
it out of the car. For instance, what do you store the tranny,
antifreeze, etc in, and where do you put it once you've got it out of
the car?

What special equipment, tools, etc would I need for each repair? I
bought a "mechanics toolset" from Sears a while back and the "deep
sockets" weren't even deep enough to take out the spark plug on my lawn
mower.

If I were to make a shopping list for the repairs, it would look like I
need:

1: I have no idea what I'd need for this? Are there special
connectors that could possibly break? Any special tools to get at it?

2: antiseize compound, dielectric grease, deep sockets, socket
extension

3: Socket handle ;-) Anything else?

4: car jack (no, I don't have one) jack stands (???), do I need a
special jack to lift the motor?

5: any tools needed to replace the gasket?

7: oil filter wrench, gaskets? Any special tools to open the drains
on the coolant, oil, or tranny? I've heard that changing tranny fluid
is easy to screw up the first time.

Thanks for all your help. Since this is a car that I'm hoping will
last another 30k, I should be getting used to doing this stuff myself.
Would a repair guide (like Chiltons) be worthwhile?

Thanks again!

Girmann

 

This is where having a friend in the know (preferably with a heated garage)
and all the tools comes in handy. I could write volumes about this but it
comes down to having someone go through it with you and help you get a feel
for how things go together. Without the proper tools and a good feel about
how much force to use, something usually breaks, gets stripped or generally
elicits epithets.

If you can't do the work yourself, get quotes from several shops (not
necessarily Saturn). A small shop may even let you watch so that you can
learn.

 

2) The deep sockets in your set don't work for spark plugs. You'll
need a spark plug socket for that. Your tool set should have an
extension in it. If not, you'll haveto buy one.

3) Use the socket handle from your tool set.

4) You _can_ use the jack in the trunk to jack the engine up while you
change the torque axis mount. It won't be as easy as with a floor jack,
but it should work fine. Those deep sockets should work on this item.

5) Probably nothing that you don't already have, but I can't remember
exactly.

7) A filter wrench might be necessary to get the oil filter off,
depending on how tight it is (I don't usually need one). Of course,
you'll need an oil drain pan. You can use the same pan for the other
fluids (drain it into a milk carton first). I find that ramps are
required for oil changes. I don't remember the tranny fluid being
tricky. You do have to take the air filter off to get to the filter
from the top. Maybe the "easy to screw up" part is refilling it? Make
sure you shift in and out of all the gears, and check it while the
engine is hot, running, and on a flat surface.


A Chilton's or Haynes manual would probably be helpful to you.

 

I can't really help on this one - I believe the 97s had the fuel filter in a
different place than the 99s.

Actually, a 14mm (IIRC) wrench for releasing the tensioner. You put the
wrench on the nut of the pulley of the tensioner and crank it clockwise.
This causes the tensioner to not push on the belt. While you're holding it,
remove the belt. Best way to get to it is to remove the right front wheel,
and remove the plastic splash guards. The locking pins are removed by
pulling the centers out then removing them.

You can buy a cheap floor jack for $20 at any auto repair place. When I've
used such jacks to support the motor, I use an old phone book between the
jack and the bottom of the oil pan. I suppose you could use a new book even.

Nah. It's a metal sandwitch type gasket. Remove it (no scraping needed) and
put the new one in its place.

The best wrenches that I've found for the oil filters are the cap wrenches.
They look like little hats that get put over the oil filter. A 3/8" wrench
fits in them.

Draining tranny fluid on an SL is just like draining oil - just a different
plug in a different location. The filter is very much like a typical oil
filter (it's under the air intake resonator / air filter - you need to
remove these to get to it). Filling the fluid requires a long funnel so that
you can fill through a 5/8" diameter hole that is hard to get to. For most
cars tranny fluid changes take some skill, but not a Saturn SL.

Oil is just a plug (13 mm I think). Tranny fluid is 14 mm I think. The
coolant drain on the block is a 10mm bolt. The coolant plug on the radiator
takes a 1/4" drive inserted into the 1/4" square hole in it. Turn counter
clockwise 1/4 turn and pull out.

Chiltons would be a good idea. Haynes would be another.

I had an www.alldatadiy.com subscription for my SLs - $24 per year to start,
$15 per year to maintain. I considered it a bargain for those cars (close to
useless for my IONs though. Sigh.)

 

2) The deep sockets in your set don't work for spark plugs. You'll

Care to inform why not? And don't say "because it doesn't have the <annoying as
hell> rubber grommet"