Moon in Saturn? (not) 1999 Saturn SC1 – A troubled history

It's white – it's benign looking to be sure. 1999 seems like a lifetime ago, but back then all I wanted in “wheels” was good front wheel drive transport that got decent mileage. My internet reviews showed that Saturn had a reasonable reputation in the industry...sooo. That should be the end of the story, but due to the fact that from 1999 through nearly 2004 I was unwell enough I did not even drive 3,000 miles a year – I got taken to the cleaners!! regarding this lemon of a vehicle.

At this late date I write this all down since last winter I discovered the inside of the passenger compartment had major water leakage. And I always had “moisture problems” inside the windows. But due to my health issues and the major move to a new home (in a state where my health insurability would be protected) this “new problem” was not addressed until now. To digress - part of this delay was because I had a major leak inside my newly purchased condo (about which both the realtor & owner lied on the disclosure agreements). 2007 was a blur of tearing out a six foot square of my living room ceiling (on the 6th of 8 floors mind you)... and attendant schlock workmen spewing slurry on my first time brand new carpeting – and uniformly covering my new living room
furniture with paster dust.

No wonder I did not get to the car's newest problem... I would say.

Below this entry you will find copies of the 1st Saturn Dealer repair – a REBUILD to the engine at 29,000 + miles (out of warranty) costing $2,059.17 and again a subsequent bill showing the additional repair replacement of a defective rocker arm – work done by an excellent local garage...
another several hundred dollars.

So I owned the car from 1999 through 2005 only putting 29,749 miles on the innocuous looking car, when I developed a catastrophic engine knock. I should digress and say that back in the 1970's my second husband and I had owned a sports car repair garage and during those years I not only learned much about engine and transmission repairs, but also about cars in general...so I have never considered myself a true novice since.

The steel on steel knocking was no mere “ping”... it was a jaw-dropping and heart skipping sound of real trouble. I knew it. But I also knew the car was well out of warranty despite it's mileage due to it's AGE. So, I proceeded to a local garage that I trusted... with ethical hard-working
real mechanics who knew their stuff.

I asked Pete to remove the valve cover to the engine (for the 1st and only time it had ever been removed on the car) – give it a visual look over – and call me. My wake-up call the next day wasn't a good one – not that I was expecting a “Hallo... can't see a thing.... looks OK to me. Can't be anything serious!” kind of call... My friends all know I am one of those folks with my own personal – black cloud, so: Pete said – “Hey! Get over here and have a look. We have all looked. We called another service station – their mechanics all came over...none of us can believe it!! There is an ENGINE PIECE missing!! Really!!! Never seen this sort of thing before!!! Wow!! The piece is called a “Valve Lifter Guide” and you can see it is missing without us touching the engine at all!!!”

aaargh I went over. I did not own a digital camera at that moment, and sadly was up to my eyeballs in a life catastrophy problem: my mother having just been installed in a nursing home – by her doctor. Since 2002 besides my own problems – all I had attended to was my mother's deteriorating condition – doctors, emergency rooms...and a partridge in a pear tree.

Pete did take photos of the engine with the cover to the engine off – but they did not come out well enough to use them - plus it was middle of the winter – with 2 feet of snow on the ground. Pete naturally wanted the Saturn dealer to work with this repair since it was a “factory defective” parts issue. I agreed, but would have preferred Pete make the repairs.... cheaper no doubt, and certainly done with due diligence. However

I did, naturally contact Saturn. What ensued is nothing new to women living on their own – in the world of men. I wrote a Certified Letter to the heads of Saturn – spoke to their Customer Service Reps – as well as to the head of my local dealership. That local dealership is owned and run by a man who also owns MOST OF the dealerships in that pretentious horrid town – who has a terrible reputation with nearly all his customers, unless they also belong to his Country Club and are
part of – the monied ruling class. I personally contacted him myself – trying to maintain my composure in the midst of issues with mother. Naturally I NEVER did speak with Beans (much less meet with) - he diverted my call to his son-in-law, who voiced platitudes and blew me off besides. As an only child, with no other family even living in that area – or even willing to lend a hand or word...I tried to stand up for my rights and myself.

Long story short but Saturn did send in a “factory technical representative” for a going over of the engine and matter – along with the technical rep at the dealership. The Saturn dealership SERVICE MANAGER however – would not allow me to be present – for that conference...and in fact was surly and unpleasant with me. But that would be my word against his, wouldn't it? I did the usual female thing when I returned home that day. Do I need to say it.

So I obviously could not go get another car. They did try to get me to trade this bum in on a newer vehicle... taking on more car payments --- and another “devil you don't know compared to the
devil you do”... which I soundly refused. In 2005 I had been out of work with my medical problems since 2002 – fighting insurance cancellation, etc. So, I went through with this $2,059.00 repair... only to have more trouble surface in the form of a bad ROCKER ARM in 2006 – which may or may not have been one that was bad, or going bad, at the time of the 2005 engine rebuild ... (or was a replacement part that was in turn itself, bad). Who knows. I did not call that dealer again needless to say. Saturn sent me a "fruitcake" (somehow doubly insulting in view of circumstances), and a car mug [who cares] for my $2,059.17.

So August 2008 will include another go round with a glass specialist trying to solve the buckets of water the car leaks into the passenger compartment and also in the trunk. This fellow was so kind, and so normal in talking with him – I have confidence that he will, fix this issue. If I am lucky and he does – I will write him and his business up on the internet because finding honest repair people
is more than, a shot in the dark. And kindness? Isn't that what the world and people, should be about? Where is Peter Sellers when you need him!