Questions about my L300

[AnotherSaturn]

I just bought a used 2001 L300 (third Saturn I've owned). I love the car - it's a huge step up from the 92 SL I was driving before. I just had a couple questions about it. First off, when the car is cold and has just been started, I start pulling out of my parking space or whatever and as I turn the wheel, there's a funny vibration-type feeling coming from the steering. It lasts less than a second, you can feel it through the gas pedal and steering wheel, but it only occurs when the wheel is first turned to get out of a space. I haven't felt it otherwise. Is this just the power steering pump getting itself moving or could it be something else?

Second, I have a moonroof and the headliner where the dome light is sags a little. I pushed it up and it sounded like velcro was trying to attach, but it popped back down. Is there an easy fix for this? It's nothing too serious but it'd be nice to have it firmly attached like it's suppose to be.

Lastly, I was looking into whiteface or indiglo gauges sometime in the future. Unfortunately I cannot find any company that makes these. Is it possible to swap a cluster from a 2003+ L-series or VUE with the white gauges? Or anyone know of a simpler solution to this?

Thanks!

[kubjam]

try looking at the L-Series Tech forum.... usually saturn techs or other mechanic's hang out there and answer these kinds of questions.... also an old thread might have covered the issues that you have.... good luck

[Brad LeBosse]

This exact same thing happens in my 2005 L300 and in a 2003 L300 that I drove last week. It will happen each time you start the car and exceeds 4 MPH. Turning the wheel has nothing to do with it. It will even happen in reverse once you reach 4 MPH. It might be a characteristic of L series cars with the 3.0L V6 but I have absolutely no idea what it is. It feels like a solenoid engaging some mechanical component. Someone tell us what it is!

Originally Posted by AnotherSaturn

First off, when the car is cold and has just been started, I start pulling out of my parking space or whatever and as I turn the wheel, there's a funny vibration-type feeling coming from the steering. It lasts less than a second, you can feel it through the gas pedal and steering wheel, but it only occurs when the wheel is first turned to get out of a space.


Thanks!

[lostwages_ls2]

The noise you might be hearing is the ABS resetting. Mine does it as I'm backing out of the driveway. There is a fix for the sagging headliner. Basically they remove the dome light. Drill a small hole, and pop-rivet the headliner to the roof. If you push hard enough, you may be able to get the velcro to stick better.

[ernesto rex]

Huh, pop rivet to the roof?

I'm guessing that there are two layers of metal up there. I have the same problem and have been trying to get the Velcro to stick with no success.

[lostwages_ls2]

2000 Saturn LS2 V6-3.0L VIN R

Top - Vehicle
Technical Service Bulletins
. Customer Interest
. . Headliner - Sags At Rear Of Sunroof

.



Notes


Headliner - Sags At Rear Of Sunroof

BULLETIN NO.: 00-T-17C

ISSUE DATE: February, 2002

CATEGORY TYPE: Body-04

CATEGORY: Interior Trim

CORPORATION NO.: 00-08-110-001C

SUBJECT:
Headliner Sags or Hangs Too Low at Rear of Sunroof Opening (Perform Dome Lamp Inspection and, if Necessary, Service Procedure in 99-T-69B before Proceeding with Service Procedure in this Bulletin).

Due to revised service procedure, this bulletin has been revised and supersedes bulletin 00-T-17B, which should be discarded.

IMPORTANT: It is not necessary to perform procedure in 99-T-69B if hook-and-loop material is already stapled to dome lamp and riveted to sunroof module.

Refer to Technical Bulletin 99-T-69B for information regarding rattle noises from headliner area. If necessary, perform procedure in 99-T-69B before performing procedure for sagging headliner in this bulletin.

MODELS AFFECTED:
2000 - 2002 Saturn L-Series Sedans with sunroof (RPO CF5)

CONDITION:
Some customers may comment about the headliner sagging or hanging too low at the rear of the sunroof opening.

CAUSE:
This condition may be caused by either the hook-and-loop fastening material not being secure, or the hook-and-loop fastening material is releasing from inner roof panel or rear of dome lamp housing.

CORRECTION:
Dome Lamp Inspection

Remove dome lamp assembly by performing steps 2 through 4 outlined in this bulletin and inspect the hook-and-loop fastening material.

^ If book-and-loop fastening material is stapled to dome lamp and riveted to sunroof module reinstall dome lamp assembly and push firmly on the dome lamp housing and around entire sunroof opening to fully engage hook-and-loop fastening material.

^ If hook-and-loop fastening material is not secure, it will be necessary to install rivets through dome lamp housing and into sunroof module. Refer to following procedure outlined in this bulletin.





2000 Saturn LS2 V6-3.0L VIN R

Top - Vehicle
Technical Service Bulletins
. Customer Interest
. . Headliner - Sags At Rear Of Sunroof
. . . Procedure

.



Notes


Procedure
1. Inspect headliner at rear of sunroof opening to verify customer concern.

IMPORTANT :If necessary, perform procedure in Technical Bulletin 99-T-69B to correct rattle noises in headliner area before performing the following procedure.





2. Remove dome lamp lens cover by pulling down gently.

3. Remove reading and dome light bulbs from dome lamp assembly.

4. Remove dome lamp assembly by prying retaining tabs upward and inward.

5. Disconnect dome lamp wiring harness connector and remove dome lamp.






IMPORTANT: It is critical that hook-and-loop material is installed properly to ensure proper positioning and alignment of dome lamp to sunroof module. At front of dome lamp assembly at location (1), only the piece of loop material is required. At rear of dome lamp assembly at location (2), both of the hook-and-loop pieces are required.

6. Inspect hook-and-loop material on dome lamp assembly and sunroof module.

^ Inspect hook-and-loop material at rear of dome lamp assembly.

- If hook-and-loop material has separated properly leaving one piece on the dome lamp assembly and one piece on the sunroof module, this area is OK and can be drilled as is for a rivet.

- If hook-and-loop material did not separate properly and has detached from either mounting surface clean the mounting surface and apply a new piece of adhesive-backed hook-and-loop material to the dome lamp assembly or sunroof module as needed.


^ Inspect hook-and-loop material at front of dome lamp assembly.

- If hook-and-loop material has separated properly leaving one piece on the dome lamp assembly and one piece on the sunroof module, leave the piece on the dome lamp assembly and remove and discard the piece on the sunroof module.

- If hook-and-loop material did not separate properly and has detached from the dome lamp mounting surface, clean the dome lamp mounting surface and apply a new piece of adhesive-backed hook-and-loop material only to the dome lamp assembly. This loop material is only to act as a spacer. So, the hook material on the sunroof module is not required. Remove hook-and-loop material from sunroof module and clean sunroof module mounting surface where hook-and-loop material was located.



7. Locate the circles molded in the surface of dome lamp assembly. One is in either of the front reading lamp bulb mounting areas and one is in the dome lamp bulb mounting area.






8. Drill a 3.5 mm (9/64 in.) hole in the center of the front location and in the center of the rear location. These holes must penetrate the hook-and-loop fastening material that was previously installed on dome lamp assembly.

9. Position dome lamp assembly back up to headliner.

10. Connect dome lamp wiring harness connector.

11. Install dome lamp assembly by tucking side mounted retaining tabs into headliner and gently pushing dome lamp upward.

12. Move sunroof sunshade to the full closed position.






13. Install a drill stop or equivalent device to a 3.5 mm (9/64 in.) drill bit. Leave 19 mm (0.75 in.) protruding from the edge of drill stop at location (1) as shown in illustration. The drill stop will act as a guide when drilling mounting holes in the sunroof module and prevent drill bit from penetrating the roof sheet metal.

14. Install a drop cloth or equivalent protective cover, in the interior of the vehicle to prevent drill shavings from landing on vehicle interior surfaces.

NOTICE: Do not allow drill bit to penetrate holes being drilled any further than drill stop placed on bit. Roof panel damage may result if holes are drilled too far.

IMPORTANT: Drill bit must penetrate two layers of sheet metal at front hole location and one layer of sheet metal at rear hole location.

15. Hold the dome lamp firmly against sunroof module and drill 3.5 mm (9/64 in.) holes through the holes previously drilled in dome lamp assembly.

16. Hold dome lamp assembly firmly against sunroof module and install a 1/8 in. X 3/8 in. aluminum rivet through the front drilled hole. Insure rivet engages both layers of sheet metal.

17. Install a 1/8 in. X 1/4 in. aluminum rivet through rear drilled hole.

18. Operate sunshade from full closed to full open positions to ensure there is no interference between sunshade and rivets.

19. Install reading and dome lamp bulbs.

20. Install dome lamp lens cover.

21. Function dome and reading lamps to ensure proper operation.

22. Insure that no metal shavings from drilling process remain in vehicle.

[AnotherSaturn]

Thanks for posting the TSB on the sagging headliner. Are the map lights suppose to pointed towards the front of the car or towards the back? If I'm not mistaken, they're pointed towards the back of the car in mine right now.