Glad you have your flashers back.

That indeed sounds like a worn out torque axis mount.

There are no more OEM torque access mounts to be had. The only ones for sale are off of cars in wrecking yards, and those have already been picked over something fierce.

The only way approach this is to buy an aftermarket one. I use the ones made by DEA. To me it is the best of the worst. You have the video so you know to support the oil pan with a piece of wood between the oil pan and jack. You can probably reuse the studs that are there. A Saturn tech once told me that if everything vibrates enough, they can vibrate loose due to where on the threads, but if they do, you already know what it is and can replace it then.

 

Hey derf, do you think some blue thread lock would help keep them from coming loose? Just an idea.

 

Thank you.

I found a DEA brand torque axis mount.

https://www.partsgeek.com/s7985f7-sa...ine-mount.html

I apologize, but I am a bit unclear as to what you mean here:

Do you mean vibration will cause the threads of the studs holding the torque axis mount to get messed up (sometimes), but I will only know this when I have removed and inspected them, and only upon inspection will I know then I need to replace them?

If this is the case, would you suggest I order a torque axis mount with studs?

I'm having some trouble finding a TAM by DEA with studs. Are studs something I can order separately?

Thank you for you help,
Edw

 

On the attaching nutsYou can order the studs separately. I'm pretty sure you have to. Since this will likely be the last time you ever do this on the vehicle, you might as well have it be the best it can be. The studs are not expensive. Be very sure when installing them that you use a torque wrench on the attaching nuts, which you should also get three new ones to go with your three new studs.. those studs will twist off like nobody's business if you over torque them. I've only broken one stud in all my years of ownership, but I had to go borrow a really expensive and really nice not extractor from my Saturn tech friend who wanted to me for 2 hours and said if you don't bring this back by the end of the day we are no longer friends. I guessed he used it a lot.

Make sure you order ones for a 2002 SL sohc.

All of the S Series cars have a bad harmonic between 1100 and 800 RPM. That's just the way it is.