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Unfortunately, the VTi transmission has had a well documented record of premature failures. There is no good news at this point...do some internet searching - there is/was a class action suit about it, also GM was offering a trade in deal for Vue owners with the VTi transmission.
Good Luck...
If you would like for customer assistance to help in working with the dealership, please send us an email with more information (including your name/username, contact information, the last 8 digits of your VIN, and the name of your involved dealership).
Regards,
Sarah
GM Customer Service
The car takes a long time to turn over sometimes & when I fill up the gauge goes to fuel, I drive about 3 miles the next time I start the car the fuel gauge has jumped to just below 3/4 of a tank, then once I restart the car again, the gauge is back on full.
I have 4 service records on this car already & this mess isn't even covered by the powertrain warranty.
I believe this issue was happening way before I purchased the car but the dealership didn't acknowledge the issue when they "inspected" the car. I'm highly upset that a car that isnt even 5 years old has required so much work!
I have had this problem fixed at least 3 times and it keeps on happening. I have also had problems with the electrical system since the sun roof leak. I have had to remove a fuse, because the interior lights will not shut off. The alsrm goes off when it rains for a long period of time
Jumping could be torque converter....there was a recall regarding the Honda torque converters like yours...I don't know the details, you may want to contact your dealer to see if you are eligible. Sometimes just changing the trans fluid cures the problem but there's no guarantee.
The "limp home" as you call it is likely the car going into "reduced power mode". I bet the engine light with the downward facing arrow lit up while this was happening. What has happened is that there is a communications problem between your gas pedal position sensor and your throttle position sensor. Either the sensor on the gas pedal is bad (likely), or the sensor on your throttle is bad (less likely) or there is a wiring issue somewhere between them (even less likely). It is not difficult to diagnose or repair and any good dealer or otherwise qualified mechanic will be able to fix it...it may not be cheap but it will be easily diagnosed and fixed. It is actually an interlock which is there to protect you and your car from wildly accelerating out of control due to the throttle being in one position and your gas pedal being in another.
best of luck :shades:
All the best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service
I see you have been in contact with us already - did you have a Service Request established? If you were to email us that number, we could look into its progress and let your agent know you've been in contact.
Best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service
Thanks!!!!
There are 2 likely repair scenarios:
1. The throttle body needs to be replaced as the position sensor or motor are having a problem managing the position of the throttle. I don't know about the cost of this repair but I would bet it will be around $ 500.
2. The throttle body needs to be cleaned as it is binding as it calibrated itself...if you've never had this done or done it yourself after 125K miles, it could be the cheap fix you're hoping for. Its amazing the amount of gunk that will build up on it, especially if you're not changing your air filter regularly. I would try this one first as its as cheap as a can of cleaner from your auto parts store.
Even if you decide to have your mechanic or a dealer look at it, this shouldn't be a complicated problem to diagnose and repair and you'll be back on the road in no time!
Best of Luck!
After hours of searching our local NAPA repair shop determined that something was shorted out. Hooking up a laptop and taking it out on the road showed that nothing was coming back from the left rear.
It turns out that there was a wire that was corroded and shorting out. According to the shop this was in wiring harness #408. Hopefully this will save someone else the extra hours at the shop!
Additionally, I was the 3rd owner and mileage is right around 70K.
Your mechanic friend can't read all of the codes in the computer because he is likely not using a GM Tech 2 scanner...only the generic OBD codes can be read by the aftermarket scanners...
The Vue can set trouble codes that an aftermarket scanner can not read...you don't mention which engine your Vue has, they each have their own quirks. Its also helpful to know how many miles it has as there are certain parts that tend to wear out with a certain amount of mileage.
You need to find a mechanic with a Tech 2 scanner to really see what is going on with your Vue...either at a dealer or qualified private mechanic. If I was betting I would bet that you have an oxygen sensor that needs to be replaced or perhaps a catalytic converter going bad - they get clogged and don't allow the car to breathe properly thus causing your MPGs to go down.
The Vue has a VERY complex computer control system...let someone familiar with it check it out.
Best of Luck :shades:
for further information regarding this class action law suit if anyone is interested or feel that they may also be able to be involved.
If you happen to figure out what is up with your gas mileage would you let me know? I would really appreciate it. I have gotten a total of 5 repair shops (2 of which were certified GM with a Saturn specialist) look at the hunk of junk and I have yet to have any 2 of the shops agree with what is wrong with it.
Thanks a bunch
from "one pissed of Saturn owner"
:mad: :lemon:
Thanks for your advice. I don't know how many types of engines that saturn was available in, but mine is one that used a Honda engine that year and V6 / AWD. It has about 107K miles on it. I am the second owner. Bought it at 99K miles.
Will an authorized GM dealer hook it up to the computer you suggest as a diagnostic for free? I hope so.
Thank you!!
Sarah
GM Customer Service
On the up side...the Honda V6 has been a VERY reliable drivetrain in the Vue and if taken care of will easily get you many more trouble free miles once you get past this. There's no reason you won't make it to 200,000 miles and more...
Talk to friends and check on the web to find a local dealer that you can trust...you will likely pay a little more but they are most familiar with your Vue.
Best of Luck!!!!
If you have any idea what you think this maybe be it would really help me out.
Thank you!!
I pulled information on what is covered under the 2008 Saturn Powertrain Manual:
Engine: Cylinder head, block, timing gears, timing
chain, timing cover, oil pump/oil pump housing,
OHC carriers, valve covers, oil pan, seals, gaskets,
turbocharger, supercharger and all internal lubricated
parts as well as manifolds, flywheel, water pump,
harmonic balancer and engine mount. Timing belts are
covered until the first scheduled maintenance interval.
Transmission/Transaxle/Transfer Case: Case, all
internal lubricated parts, torque converter, transfer case,
transmission/transaxle mounts, seals, and gaskets.
Drive Systems: Final drive housing, all internal
lubricated parts, axle shafts and bearings, constant
velocity joints, axle housing, propeller shafts, universal
joints, wheel bearings, locking hubs, front differential
actuator, supports, front and rear hub bearings,
seals and gaskets.
If you would like for us to get further involved in this, please send an email to socialmedia@gm.com with more information (include your name and Edmunds username, phone and address, last 8 of your VIN and current mileage, and the name of your involved dealership).
Best,
Sarah
GM Customer Service
Lemon lemon lemon! This has been a rotten car since we bought it brand new in July 2003.
We have had the following problems:
1) REPLACE TRANSMISSION - at 80k miles (just over 8 years - in which the GM dealer did agree to pay for 50% of the new transmission - our cost $1800)
2) CRACK IN DRIVERS SIDE MIRROR (this has been reported by many ppl)
3) HORN STUCK ON, blew fuse (when I googled this, it has also been a problem by many ppl. We read it would cost a couple thousand to fix because the horn relay is intertwined with the air bag.)
4) AIR CONDITIONING - no longer blows cold - hissing sound when using heat/air/fan.
5) REAR WIPER SLOW
6) HAZZARD BUTTON PUSHED INTO DASH
7) HOOD LATCH LEVER BROKEN (many times)
8) CD PLAYER - stopped working, CD stuck in it
9) REAR SWAY BAR LINKS - had to replace
10) REAR SUSPENSION - recall, had work done under warranty
11) BENT DRIVERS SIDE WIPER ARM - ordered while still under warranty twice and we never did get it
12) ELECTRICAL PROBLEM (?) - While driving to our vacation destination, all lights in the display panel went on - indicated empty gas, temperature hot, service, service engine soon, security, dome light when on, door locks wouldn't work, intermittent wipers would not work but regular speed did, power windows still worked - who knows what else!!! We continued driving because we were in the middle of nowhere. Once we turned off the car, it would not start again. It would turn over but not start. Next day it would not even turn over (dead battery maybe).
This car is EVIL!
Unfortunately I am quite limited in my ability to troubleshoot vehicle concerns like this; however, I am hopeful that you'll get some great advice from other members of the Edmunds community. If you wanted to get this checked out a dealership, be sure to let us know as we're available to follow up on your visit or investigate the situation further. We can be reached at socialmedia@gm.com
Sarah, GM Customer Service
Saw a worms nest of plastic for the air intake to the air cleaner.
WOWZER!
Why would Saturn want to cause the intake air to worm and wonder thru a mase like this?
I removed it!
No differnce in intake air noise.
On top of the engine is another large plastic box for the air between the filter and engine.
Removed it!
Used a piece of 3" aluminum dryer hose to replace it.
Installed the hose and sensor to the new aluminum hose.
No differnce in intake noise, fuel mileage or engine tune.
Anybody have an idea of why Saturn used all that plastic in the air intake system?
We use an ash tray "cup" in the cup holder, but it is between the arm rests and uncomfortable to use that way.
I was hoping there was one that fit in the 'hole' below the radio.
Help appreciated.
The oil leak is probably from the drain plug loose and or the oil filter loose.
Front brake pads cost about $30 at a auto store and take about a half hour to change. Have the neighbor kid change them for you and tip him 50 bucks!
I pulled my relay because I don't like those DRL's
That includes tie rods, etc. etc.
Probably a sloppy mechanic.
That squeel sounds like the throw-out bearing which mechanically operates the clutch when you push on the pedal.
Sarah, GM Customer Service
Modifying the air intake system made a huge differnce.
Removed all the plastic air intake plumbing before and after the air cleaner box.
Installed 4" aluminum dryer vent pipe in it's place. (Yes, reinstalled the sensors before the throttle body)
Been driving this way about a month now.
NOTICEABLE increase in throttle response!
NOTICEABLE increase in gas mileage!....about 3 - 4 mpg!
I THINK the horn relay is electronic located as an intrigal part of the horn plug assembly.
I was thinking maybe go to the salvage yard and get an additional plug/relay assembly, connect into the line and solder the additional plug/relay.
Then adjust the second horn rate of vibration to either more or less than the original horn which ever sounds the best.
Putting in a second horn unit might actually make it sound worse unless you understand the science of sound including phase and amplitude. If you hear an old Cadillac horn(s) you can hear some of the possibilities.
Steering wheel crooked
Passenger side windshield wiper inoperable
Heater vents inoperable
Heater did not produce heat
Break pedal vibration from ABS
Battery died
Passenger side strut replaced
I was out of town when the brake pedal started vibrating intermittently. One dealer said the rotors were bad - another dealer couldn't find the problem. When the battery died, I contacted GM to file a complaint against the selling dealership. The best I got was a certificate worth $100 for the NEXT time the piece of crap breaks down. Since then, the heater had to be repaired three times and the passenger side front strut has been replaced. In my 30+ years of buying cars, this has been my worse car buying experience.
I'm so sorry to hear about the concerns you've had with your Vue! Are there any current concerns we could check into?
Sarah, GM Customer Service