Saturn L Series Sedans & Wagons L100, L200, L300, LW200, and LW300

Pay attention to changes to your car!

Old Jan 27, 2024 | 06:46 PM
  #1  
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From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Default Pay attention to changes to your car!

We have had an ice storm here in Oregon. I work for the power company so we go into Declared Emergency mode to restore power to the people. I last drove my Saturn Thursday the 11th, I drove my 4x4 Gmc pickup on Friday the 12th. We went into DE that day and I did not get home until Saturday night on the 20th. I drove the truck again on Monday, returning to the Saturn on Tuesday this week. Extreme lack of sleep led to a surprise on the drive home Tuesday night. The car came around on a left hand turn on my regular commute route. That woke me up! I paid much closer attention the rest of the way home. I noticed that the steering wheel was no longer straight ahead. It was clocked about 11 O’clock instead of perfectly straight. The car drove fine except in hard left turns, then it was spooky loose. I checked the tire pressure and gave it a look over and that tire was at 25 with the rest at 35. Drove it two more days this week and played with it. If I rocked the steering wheel it would center up a little. Yesterday it went in the air for inspection and the rear suspension checked out. The lower rose bushing on that side has a little slack but it will run. Next I looked at the front and the problem was obvious, the pinch bolt on the right lower ball joint was gone and the joint was part way out of the knuckle. It must have fallen out on that Thursday on the way home. My 20 year old grandson was helping me and said that he had found a bolt in the driveway while I was working the storm. It was the missing bolt. Tragedy averted!
Moral to the story: pay attention to the smallest details when something changes on your car.
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Old Jan 28, 2024 | 08:33 AM
  #2  
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From: Anniston, AL
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Glad to hear that it all worked out and you're safe, Andy. Good call and kudos to your grandson for finding the bolt and alerting you.
 
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