25th Nov 2008, 17:26

I own a 2001 Saturn L300 that I purchased back in '03 with about 50K miles. I have been relatively satisfied with it until recently, and that's saying a lot considering it has nearly 150K miles on it now.

However, a few weeks ago, I noticed the low coolant light was on. I put coolant in only to have the light come on less than a week later. So I filled it once again, and it drove fine for the next couple of days. After leaving it home while I was out of town for a couple days, I returned to find the passenger floorboard soaking wet and the coolant completely drained.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem is, what needs to be done to fix it and how much it's going to cost me? Thanks.

4th Dec 2008, 19:14

To all my friends with a Saturn problem... I still have my Saturn L300 and I also have had the same problems you all have been having.

I bought my car wit 99,613 miles on it.. it was great till the car started to act up... and I been reading everything everyone has been writing about. The sorry excuse of a car GM built...

I had the entire car redone. and let me tell you guys that GM had no idea on how to build a car.. so to help you guys out, get rid of the Saturn, or just strip it and get it rebuilt from end to front..

5th Dec 2008, 13:55

Hello Friends.

I own a 2001 Saturn L300. The coolant light came on so I had it checked out, the mechanic said I needed a new water pump approximately $670.00. One of the guys at work referred me to another mechanic who quoted me a cheaper price, plus he said I needed a new timing belt. I picked up the car from one place and dropped it off at the other.

About a 1/2 later, the owner calls me and asks if there is a secret to get the gear shift unlocked! What??? It seems now all the service lights are coming on, can't get the gears to shift unless they go in and reset the service vehicle indicator. Sorry not sure what these things are called, I'm a frustrated lady with a dead car.

Anyhow, they replaced the water pump, I picked up the car, and yep, the darn thing wouldn't shift. They were nice enough, and said I should take it to the Saturn dealership. They reset the car, I drove it home, turned the windshield wipers on and then couldn't get them to turn off - they eventually stopped. The power locks don't work either.

The mechanic said he thinks it has something to do with the body control module. I need to ask - is this an expensive thing to have replaced? Thank you all for the information shared.

28th Dec 2008, 00:06

2004 L300 E Brake frozen; dealer says $300-400 to replace. Has anyone else had this issue? Any less expensive suggestions?

Thanks.

9th Feb 2009, 21:57

I've got a Saturn L300 with about 151,000 miles on it. When I turn on my AC, water starts leaking from the middle console into the floorboards. Eventually, both front floorboards are soaked.

What's wrong and how much do you think it will cost to fix?

I'm praying I can get 200,000 miles out of the car before I roll it into the Gulf. I'm scared to take it to the dealership, as they are criminals.

15th Feb 2009, 10:44

I have a 2000 LS2 Saturn, and when I fill it up with gas, it just won't start.. WHY.

Please, Please help!!!

Again only when I fill it up!!!

Thank you very much

Dennis.

22nd Feb 2009, 02:46

The the person who posted on 9th Feb 2009, 21:57.

I also have a Saturn L300 and had the IDENTICAL problem with the water leaking from the middle console where I had a huge puddle on the driver's side.

Fixing this will cost you ZERO. No respectable mechanic should even charge you to fix this... here is what it is:

There's a pan and drain that's clogged most likely from leaves or dirt. It takes a mechanic about 2 minutes to go underneath, remove the pan, unclog and put the pan back on.

My mechanic did it for free. Literally took a few minutes. The problem has not recurred.

18th Mar 2009, 21:06

I have a 2003 Saturn L300, 6 cylinder, my brother-in-law is changing the oil and oil filter. He is unable to take out and change the oil filter. Anyone able to offer any suggestions?

19th Mar 2009, 17:10

Changing the oil filter is not too different from most cars... The smallish aluminum filter housing s located just ahead of the oil pan above a cross-member. You can use a large adjustable wrench or a 3/8" drive ratchet (it fits in the end) to spin it out. The new filter "snaps" into into the housing to hold it while installing the filter/housing.

The new filter comes with a new "o"-ring for the housing.

Clean the portion of the housing that screws into the engine block as well as the "o"-ring groove.

Unfortunately, I have some experience working on L300's.

I have more time than money, so I will attempt most repairs myself.

My current problems are: dash lights, speedo, tach.

Going dead for some period of time on an intermittent basis. I know it is the BCM, I'm just trying to find a cheap used one. Fuel gauge results are inverted, My A/C condensor has a small leak, and my thermostat runs cold.

Have had the "stalling and won't start till cool" problem (Crankshaft position sensor) and have been through 2 mass-air sensors. (rough shifts, check engine light or No-codes).

The sunroof works great!!!

22nd Apr 2009, 13:31

I have 155K on my 01 L300, and had the low coolant light on - turned out it needed a new radiator - had a small leak - which I found after I replaced the thermostat - what a job, and then it was running funny, no heat, fan always coming on and it threw a P01116 Code and I replaced the ECTS (Engine Coolant Temp Sensor), and finally it seems to be running. We'll see what's next.

23rd Apr 2009, 18:48

The first car I had was a Saturn 96 SL1, and my transmission went bad and I also had to get an A/C compressor.

Then I bought my Saturn 2001 L300 on Oct 4 2007 with 52k miles. I was having minor problems in the beginning, mainly I say minor because I had a warranty so my car was getting fixed for much of nothing.

Suddenly one day in Jan, 2008, the guy who was washing my car said I had a greasy substance on my passenger floor. I took it to get it checked and it was my heater core, which was not covered on my warranty, so I didn't have any money to get that fixed, so I got my heater bypassed and got all of the freon (or whatever is needed for the heater) drained out. When it got cold I froze, and I have leather seats, so I had seat heaters to keep me warm (thank goodness).

Shortly after that my A/C started blowing smoke out the vents, which isn't a good sign.. (and I don't care if you think that means your A/C is super cold LOL). Turns out my A/C compressor went bad.. Damn, no A/C, no heat, how many more strikes will I have against me? So I had to deal with what I had until my fuel tank had a scent of gas, which meant I was leaking gas.. (oh no) yep that was my last strike. I just got my car fixed, which was all three strikes that are now resolved. In early April, yay.

Other than that, I had no problems with my Saturn, just get the oil changes and you're fine!!