compression = 0 on #2 cylinder Saturn SL-2. now what?
 

I was driving home from IL last night and the car lost power. It seemed to be running on 3 cylinders. I just check my compression and

#1 is at 185
#2 is at 0
#3 is at 190
#4 is at 185

so what shall I do next? leak down test? get ready to pull the head?

Speedy:)

leakdown is an option , then you can hear the air escape via intake or exhaust, and maybe even determine which valve dropped

Or you could just take out that plug and keep on going.

I had a customer with a Honda do that back when I was wrenching on cars. The dude put a 100k on it like that.

He was not our best customer.

Somethings definately wrong, the head will have to be pulled either way. Why even bother w/ a leakdown, just take the head off.

It seems like it could be one of 3 things

head gasket
intake valve
exhaust valve

I will have to pull the head and go from there. The head has "porosity" problems according to the service tech at the Saturn dealership. I guess it is pretty common for the SL-2 to leak coolant through the porous head.

Speedy:)

If you can leak coolant through the head, why are there no exhaust gasses getting in there? That makes no damn sence to me.

Get a big drill bit and drill three more holes to even the compression out between all 4 cylinders. :D

It's a Saturn, throw it away and get another one.

I would throw it away and get another P-car but I am in my second year of Engineering School. I was hoping this car would last me through school without big trouble. The big bummer is it is -15 degrees F outside right now and have the project 948 torn apart in the single car garage. I will have to get creative in how I fix it.

I thought about just pulling the fuel injector plug out but I am sure it would mess with the fuel injection by richening the mixture.

Well best start looking for a head.

Speedy:)

You know, while you're in there, there are some pretty sweet Turbo setups for Saturns.

You know...while you're in there....

Pull the engine and install a "Vette" powerplant. I suspect the trans would have issues though.
Finding a head for the SL2 is hard, at least in my neck of the woods

One solution...Buy a Japan made car...No more engine problems...!

Perhaps just a valve spring?

You could finish the 'S'...

holy cow. Today the olds van battery died and the fuel pressure regulator was leaking as well. I fixed those items tonight but I feel like I angered the car gods somehow. I must be down on my good karma levels or something.

Speedy:)

toady,
you have a link to the turbo setups you speak of?

rick,
I don't think the LT1 engine will fit plus could you amagine the torque steer on that sucka!

Legion,
I know, I know, I should have finished the 'S' because then this wouldn't be a big issue.

I saw a 83 944 in our local paper for $1600. I started to think about dumping the Saturn and getting the more reliable 944.

**** update ******

Pulled the valve cover and everything looked OK with the valaves and springs. I called the dealership and they said they rarely have head gasket problems but have had problems with the exhaust valves blowing holes through and chipping. I unplugged the fuel injector and drove it until today. The Saturn dealership quoted over the phone $675 to do the head gasket and to replace the valve. I thought it was reasonable so I made an apointment. I took the car in this morning so they could pull the head and call me back with a damage report....

I just got a call at 6:00 pm which is when service closed. The service manager said they havn't pulled the head yet but did run a compression test. He said they got

140
0
125
140

He went on to say Saturn's low limit is 165 so the motor is shot and I need a new one. He them quoted me $3,500 for a remanufactured 1.9L I-4 . I almost died. Wen I told him the car wasn't even worth $3,500 he said it would be worth alot more with the new engine... BS!!! I asked to have them to just replace the bad valve but he said they would want to do all of them at a tune of $1000.

I am smelling a rat here! His compression number differ greatly from what I saw on my gauge in my garage and I think he is trying to soak me. (see compression figs at top of thread) It angers me soooo much I want to strangle him. I thought it was convinent he called me right at closing as if to pressure me into making a decision.

What are you guys thoughts??

Speedy:)

Have the car flatbedded to an honest mechanic.

Check if the cylinder head has been replaced by a GM dealer before. There is (or was) a 6 year warranty on the early single cam cylinder heads.
Maybe the twin-cam heads have the same problem?

I just convinced a GF to get rid of her SL2. The clutch went out. The dealer wanted a thou to do it. The car was not worth that fixed. There were no independants that would touch it. It went to a 'recent visitor to this country' and onto a flatbed trailor.

I call this particular game "dealership".

Take it to an independent. Although considering you are putting a V8 in a 944, I'd think you were capable of doing it yourself.

I know i can do it but it is an issue of time and garage space. I have the 's' torn apart in the garage and school is kicking my butt right now.

The car is driveable on the 3 cylinders (have put 800+ miles on it like this) so I could drive it to an independent. I am going to raise the BS flag tommarrow with this guy and if he gives me any slack I am pulling the car. I thought that being the dealer, and I knew what was wrong, I could hold thier hand and tell them what I wanted done so they could just crank it out most effieciently.

Speedy:(

What do you guys think of the compression test difference? Line of bull?

Speedy:)

You could test it with another gauge, maybe yours is slightly knackered.

The difference between your measurement and theirs is HUGE...I'd say it's worth re-checking.

Or maybe their gauge is screwed. I'd probably just get the car and go. You could always say that this feels an awful lot like fraud and like they are trying to rip you off. They then might just replace the one valve, but there's a problem with that tactic. If they are dishonest then you may get the car back with bigger problems than it went in with. I don't think there's any point in trying to get honest work out of them at this point. Take the car back and run.

What makes me think thier numbers are bull is in acceleration it is almost as fast as my 944 up to the end of third gear. If the engine's compression was that bad, the poor Saturn would not be able to get out of it's own way.

Speedy:)

I pulled the car from the dealership. After a conversation with the service advisor he started to whip out funny math when he spoke about compression numbers and cost to do the job. It was way to fishy smelling in the dealership.

Looks like I will be going the head now.

It's a double edge sword being able to work on cars because you can smell the BS a mile away and in my case I get pretty worked up when someone tries to screw me.

Speedy:)