Your mechanic has it backwards.
Larry
"Darius" > wrote in message ...
> Thank you, marx404
> Just as I was going to unsubscribe from the newsgroup, somebody finally
> pulls
> through.
> Yes, the link helps a great deal. BTW seeing the bulletin scroll endlessly
> while checking out my van makes me appreciate the short list devoted to
> that
> particular year/model of Saturn.
> I did take a look at the Saturn I had spoted at the dealer lot, and was
> instantly turned off of it.
> Car came from eastern Canada (I live in Manitoba) and was brutally rusty
> underneath, even hinges under the hood were caked with rust. They
> (over)use
> salt to condition roads in the winter in Ontario and Quebec, and salt is
> rendered useless in our arctic fifty below deep freeze of Manitoba. We use
> sand
> for traction.
> I also talked to my mechanic (40 years of experience) who said to stay
> away
> from DOHC (oil burner) but otherwise had no problems with 1.9 L. in S
> cars.
> I maintain my cars, so there should not be any overheating problems,
> unless the
> damage has already been done, which my mechanic will check for me.
> Once again, thanks for the info and the link.
>
>
> marx404 wrote:
>
>> Darius, heres someone with the straight scoop. '01 saw some major changes
>> to
>> the SC. '02 was the final year of the S car. There were many minor issues
>> in
>> the '01 model (which not all cars have), not all the same problems exist
>> in
>> the '02 SC models.
>>
>> Below are all the recall/bulletins for the '01 SC1. SOHC engines have a
>> known tendency for cracked heads and overheating when not properly taken
>> care of and especially if allowed to overheat. We have 3 SOHC S-cars in
>> the
>> family and the only issues with one was our teenagers dogged on the car
>> and
>> failed to properly check fluids, thus overheating and blown gaskets
>> (which
>> would have lead to a cracked head); after repair, that car is on its
>> second
>> teenage driver and still running strong.
>>
>> SOHC engines are only 100hp but also have somewhat better pickup on the
>> low
>> power end than DOHC. And of course, the gas mileage is better. Here is a
>> site with known bulletins and problems on the '01 SC1, the '02 models
>> also
>> shared some of these issues but many are not applicable.
>>
>> As I said, '01 was the 1st year of the "newly designed" SC models, '02
>> was
>> the 2nd and final yr. I drive an '02 DOHC SC2 myself. Hope this info
>> helps.
>> http://www.alldata.com/TSB/53/015309FC.html
>>
>> marx404
>