Where Are Saturn Mechanics Missing The Boat?

Following is a long saga of dealing with P0442 code on a 2000-Saturn
SL2:

Saturn has yet to fix this vehicle with reliability or credibility;
the manufacturer doesn't seem to have the answer, either. Problem
started 2 days after 3-year warranty was up: Last visit, car was in
shop for three days. Car has never been to an outside mechanic.
Notice repeat part replacements on this low mileage car. Come
4/1/2005 this car will not pass inspection in New York State. In
fairness, Saturn has not charged me, but I can't even get another
dealer to take this car as a trade-in.

Any suggestions on what Saturn mechanics failed to do? They claim car
passes pressure tests and smoke tests -- that the car is mechanically
sound -- that there is no leak.

George


Date Miles Part and Part serial number and job

 

They have to fix it in the US under emissions warranty.

 

Saturn can not charge you, because your car is covered under the
federally mandated emissions warrenty, and I believe if you bought it
new in NY by that time, the California warranty. It's is entirely up to
them to fix it. Check the back of your owner's manual, it has this info
in there. You shouldn't pay one cent of the costs, period.

Then the car shouldn't be throwing a code and should pass inspection.
In any case, It's up to Saturn to fix the problem, on their dime.

 

Just replace a few more parts and I think we can rule out a fuel
problem.

BTW, a lot of these parts should be covered under the 100,000 mile
emissions warranty.

 

(George)

I forget what that code is and dont have my book in front of me , but from the
list of parts there it must be an evap system problem. The one thing not on
that list is the filler neck. I ( when I worked there ) had replaced 2 necks
for leaks. This was caused by gouging the neck with agas pump nozzle. I will
look up the code later ( unless you have the info with you ) .

Evap leaks were pretty easy to find with the super sensitive microphone thing
Saturn gave the techs.

 

P0442 Medium Leak Detected in EVAP system

 

Quoting from the original post:

(I can understand how you missed that in the middle of all the other
repairs.)

 

You'd think that Saturn would crack down on dealers wasting their money on
such parts-swapping (replacing the FTP sensor twice?) If the code is still
there, there's obviously still a leak somewhere (since they already replaced
the FTP sensor). It could be in any of the vapor lines around the fuel tank
or in the engine compartment. They're supposed to be using a smoke generator
and ultrasonic leak detector to track down an evaporative leak of this sort.

 

Do all Saturns have a 100K emissions warranty? 1992SL1?

Mike

 

It is a Federal law that all new cars have a 100,000 mile emissions
warranty. Not sure of the time limit but I don't think this extends
back to 1992.

 

My 94 SC1 says 50K or 5 years.

brian