Broken Coil Spring - 2001 Saturn SL1
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Does it include a 4-wheel alignment?
Also, when you remove the front struts, it's quite possible that the upper strut mount bearings will disintegrate. I would budget an extra $80 for a new set of upper strut mounts.
I would also ask your mechanic what struts he's installing. Monroe Sensa-Trac and KYB GR-2 are the only two that I would consider installing, and I prefer the KYB.
Also, when you remove the front struts, it's quite possible that the upper strut mount bearings will disintegrate. I would budget an extra $80 for a new set of upper strut mounts.
I would also ask your mechanic what struts he's installing. Monroe Sensa-Trac and KYB GR-2 are the only two that I would consider installing, and I prefer the KYB.
What was wrong with the outer tie rod ends?
How does it ride with the new Sensa-Tracs? Softer?
How does it ride with the new Sensa-Tracs? Softer?
The driver's side tie rod was shot, the other side was halfway there.
I cannot hardly tell you all how well the new Sens-a-tracs ride!
Know the "Slam" you get when hitting every ridge or pothole in the pavement? It's GONE - just smooooooooothes over it!
Very stable & tight on the road. Wow.
I cannot hardly tell you all how well the new Sens-a-tracs ride!
Know the "Slam" you get when hitting every ridge or pothole in the pavement? It's GONE - just smooooooooothes over it!
Very stable & tight on the road. Wow.
Well, your 'bargain buy' just became a 'money pit'!
Sorry, but you just upped the amount the car cost by so much, you could have bought a much newer car! I learned that lesson long, long ago - spending more on a newer car is a better deal than pouring money into an older one!
Good luck with it!
Sorry, but you just upped the amount the car cost by so much, you could have bought a much newer car! I learned that lesson long, long ago - spending more on a newer car is a better deal than pouring money into an older one!
Good luck with it!
Originally Posted By: addyguy
Well, your 'bargain buy' just became a 'money pit'!
Sorry, but you just upped the amount the car cost by so much, you could have bought a much newer car! I learned that lesson long, long ago - spending more on a newer car is a better deal than pouring money into an older one!
Good luck with it!
I respectfully disagree here. I own a similar model as the OP and I have 330 dollars into it in 56,000 miles of use. This included one tie rod end and a wheel bearing on the driver's side. This is normal wear and tear. I have had numerous vehicles need struts/shocks/tie rod ends at 100K.
Buying a newer vehicle is no guarantee that the OP wouldn't have repairs with that one. And let's be fair here. The repairs that the OP did are not exotic repairs by any means.
If you have a rudimentary knowledge of working on cars, you can be an expert on these Saturn 1.9 engines. I am a dufus when it comes to cars and I can do everything on this car for cheap. Parts are extremely plentiful and very cheap.
I have had no car payment with this car now for 1.5 years x 300 bucks = 4100 bucks. I can do one heck of a large amount of repairs for the car payments I do not have going out.
Well, your 'bargain buy' just became a 'money pit'!
Sorry, but you just upped the amount the car cost by so much, you could have bought a much newer car! I learned that lesson long, long ago - spending more on a newer car is a better deal than pouring money into an older one!
Good luck with it!
I respectfully disagree here. I own a similar model as the OP and I have 330 dollars into it in 56,000 miles of use. This included one tie rod end and a wheel bearing on the driver's side. This is normal wear and tear. I have had numerous vehicles need struts/shocks/tie rod ends at 100K.
Buying a newer vehicle is no guarantee that the OP wouldn't have repairs with that one. And let's be fair here. The repairs that the OP did are not exotic repairs by any means.
If you have a rudimentary knowledge of working on cars, you can be an expert on these Saturn 1.9 engines. I am a dufus when it comes to cars and I can do everything on this car for cheap. Parts are extremely plentiful and very cheap.
I have had no car payment with this car now for 1.5 years x 300 bucks = 4100 bucks. I can do one heck of a large amount of repairs for the car payments I do not have going out.
I think he got a good buy, that cost to repair those items will allow the vehicle to run trouble free for many miles and years, the rest is just routine maintenance.
My Xterra needed new shocks, a spare tire + carrier chain.
The shocks were roughly $58 a peice for Bilsteins with a 3inch and 2 inch lift capability(for future upgrades). Basically for a little over $200 I got better than OEM shocks(they typically last 20k) and the spare tire from a junkyard came with the a steel rim(brand new wheel) for 80 bucks and the chain+latch was $10 shipped from a fellow Xterra owner.
Shocks are good for between 70-100k miles. Your Saturn will return the favor. You take care of a car, it will take care of you. Neglect is what makes a car purchase fail. You don't know how many people I know that buy 300-1k cars and complain they die after 3 months, because they don't fix the little things that the other owner never bothered to do.
One persons trash is anothers treasure(and the Saturn is not trash, this is just a statement is all).
Good luck with the car!
My Xterra needed new shocks, a spare tire + carrier chain.
The shocks were roughly $58 a peice for Bilsteins with a 3inch and 2 inch lift capability(for future upgrades). Basically for a little over $200 I got better than OEM shocks(they typically last 20k) and the spare tire from a junkyard came with the a steel rim(brand new wheel) for 80 bucks and the chain+latch was $10 shipped from a fellow Xterra owner.
Shocks are good for between 70-100k miles. Your Saturn will return the favor. You take care of a car, it will take care of you. Neglect is what makes a car purchase fail. You don't know how many people I know that buy 300-1k cars and complain they die after 3 months, because they don't fix the little things that the other owner never bothered to do.
One persons trash is anothers treasure(and the Saturn is not trash, this is just a statement is all).
Good luck with the car!
Okay, let me re-phrase it another way...
He paid $2500 for the car. I'll guess the repairs ran $1000-$1500. He did them SO close to buying the car, that he essentially paid $3500-$4000 for a 2001 Saturn SL-1.
If he had posted the question: "Hey guys, I found a mint 2001 Saturn SL-1 for sale for $4000, should I bite?", The answer would be "No, that's too much for the car, bargain it down to $2500-$3000."
So if he paid $3500-$4000 for the car outright, it would be too much; but if he buys it for $2500, and sinks another $1000-$1500 into it a week later, its OK?
I'm speaking from experience. I thought for my first car, if i bought it cheap, and did minimal repairs, I would pay less than someone who bought a newer car, b/c i'd be able to 'control' how much was done in repairs. I bought a 1985 Skyhawk for $1200; and inside of two years I'd put well over another $4k into it.
If I'd bought a newer car for $4-5k, I'd have been further ahead!!! Some people don't learn that lesson 'till later....
He paid $2500 for the car. I'll guess the repairs ran $1000-$1500. He did them SO close to buying the car, that he essentially paid $3500-$4000 for a 2001 Saturn SL-1.
If he had posted the question: "Hey guys, I found a mint 2001 Saturn SL-1 for sale for $4000, should I bite?", The answer would be "No, that's too much for the car, bargain it down to $2500-$3000."
So if he paid $3500-$4000 for the car outright, it would be too much; but if he buys it for $2500, and sinks another $1000-$1500 into it a week later, its OK?
I'm speaking from experience. I thought for my first car, if i bought it cheap, and did minimal repairs, I would pay less than someone who bought a newer car, b/c i'd be able to 'control' how much was done in repairs. I bought a 1985 Skyhawk for $1200; and inside of two years I'd put well over another $4k into it.
If I'd bought a newer car for $4-5k, I'd have been further ahead!!! Some people don't learn that lesson 'till later....
The coil spring was a suprise. I didn't "have" to do the front struts or both outer tie rods, could've done just one. Did the brakes myself.
My goal is to keep it until it gets at least 250,000 miles. Most of the things I can do now, or postpone them until later - either way, they'll need to be replaced on most any car!
The rest of the car including the front end is pretty much mint. I'll throw in NGK's this week, but don't have to. The engine sounds almost like new!
Saturn_Fan & Toyots&Saturn both know I have been looking for over a year and I receives a ton of help from both!
My goal is to keep it until it gets at least 250,000 miles. Most of the things I can do now, or postpone them until later - either way, they'll need to be replaced on most any car!
The rest of the car including the front end is pretty much mint. I'll throw in NGK's this week, but don't have to. The engine sounds almost like new!
Saturn_Fan & Toyots&Saturn both know I have been looking for over a year and I receives a ton of help from both!
Originally Posted By: tpitcher
The coil spring was a suprise. I didn't "have" to do the front struts or both outer tie rods, could've done just one. Did the brakes myself.
My goal is to keep it until it gets at least 250,000 miles. Most of the things I can do now, or postpone them until later - either way, they'll need to be replaced on most any car!
The rest of the car including the front end is pretty much mint. I'll throw in NGK's this week, but don't have to. The engine sounds almost like new!
Saturn_Fan & Toyots&Saturn both know I have been looking for over a year and I receives a ton of help from both!
Hi TPitcher,
You did great on the car.
To make my Saturn last until 250K (that is my goal as well), I am going to continue to drive it gently by keeping the R's down (which really keeps my oil consumption in check) and by monitoring the oil level each gas fill up.
When you mention NGK's, I assume you are going with the cheapest copper ones as this is what these engines love. Moreover, there is no need to spend tons of money on exotic plug wires as they perform quite well with house brand 7mm or 8mm wires. They do not perform well with platinum plugs at all.
Welcome to the Saturn Club!
The coil spring was a suprise. I didn't "have" to do the front struts or both outer tie rods, could've done just one. Did the brakes myself.
My goal is to keep it until it gets at least 250,000 miles. Most of the things I can do now, or postpone them until later - either way, they'll need to be replaced on most any car!
The rest of the car including the front end is pretty much mint. I'll throw in NGK's this week, but don't have to. The engine sounds almost like new!
Saturn_Fan & Toyots&Saturn both know I have been looking for over a year and I receives a ton of help from both!
Hi TPitcher,
You did great on the car.
To make my Saturn last until 250K (that is my goal as well), I am going to continue to drive it gently by keeping the R's down (which really keeps my oil consumption in check) and by monitoring the oil level each gas fill up.
When you mention NGK's, I assume you are going with the cheapest copper ones as this is what these engines love. Moreover, there is no need to spend tons of money on exotic plug wires as they perform quite well with house brand 7mm or 8mm wires. They do not perform well with platinum plugs at all.
Welcome to the Saturn Club!
I strongly agree with Saturn Fan and tpitcher. It is a good deal in the long run to fix up your car rather than buy a newer more expensive car. I am sure Dave Ramsey would agree,also. With resources like Richpin on YouTube to help with maitenance and repairs on your Saturn, how can you go wrong. Enjoy the new car ride of your Saturn.
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