I wanted to show the engine compartment right off as having pictures of it will be helpful in years to come. In the event something happens or if I need to do some wrenching in there.
This is a DOHC 2.2 L engine, 4-cylinder. Named the Ecotec.
There’s lots of space between the engine and firewall. Probably has to do with the engineers making a design that can fit both the 4-cylinder and the 6-cylinder model L300 with little retooling needed. It’s a really strong engine the 2.2L…I’m very happy with it. The reason I wanted this car and model is because it is towable like all automatic transmission Saturn models and this model has all the power gear I want in a car. But it’s still relatively light weight so as not to put too much of a strain on my RV’s Cat diesel engine.
Power windows, door locks, power drivers seat, power trunk release, electronic key plus standard, fold down rear seats, air bags and air curtains, and the biggie, Cruise Control. Really missed having that in my ’01 Saturn SL1. What’s funny is this ‘near luxury’ car doesn’t have the remote gas fill door that my SL1 had. Reach down near the floor on the drivers left and I could pop open the trunk and the gas door. I liked the security of that. Hopefully this car has an anti-gas theft device installed in the fill tube, I’ll have to add one if it’s not there.
When I bought the car, it only had 66,000 miles on it. I’ve since added over 1,000 miles on it as it was on a dealers lot over near the California coast and I’m here in Nevada very near the CA border. Had to enlist my brothers help driving back and forth. He lives around 90 miles north of LA and the dealer is 35 miles south of LA. So lots of bouncing around back and forth. Got it all done though and I’m enjoying my newer Saturn a lot here in Pahrump.
So far I’ve added the new air filter, new wiper blades, and I just ordered a new set of tires as I noticed sun rot on the ones on it now. And age cracks between treads. Pretty much means the tires are way old and in poor shape when you see that. I was planning on waiting until I got to Oregon to save the tax expense, but they’re just in too bad of shape to chance towing it all the way up there on them. I’m lucky I got that 1,000 miles on it since purchase as it is. No need to tempt fate just to save a few bucks. New tires on hand and will be installed by the end of this week.