NHTSA Complaint #10167213 — 2001 SATURN LS

MY 2001 L-SERIES SATURN DEVELOPED A LOW SPEED MISS, WAS DIAGNOSED AS A STICKING VALVE AT SATURN OF FREDERICK, MD. THREE DAYS LATER ON A NARROW ROAD MY TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 55 MPH. CAUSING A SUDDEN SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT THE VEHICLE OVER TO A VERY NARROW SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP. DIAGNOSIS WAS MADE AS BROKEN TIMING CHAIN WHICH ALSO CAUSED BENT VALVES IN THE CYLINDER HEAD. NEW TIMING CHAIN KIT WAS INSTALLED AND THE HEAD WAS RE-DONE WITH NEW VALVES AND GASKETS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE NEW TIMING CHAIN KIT WAS AND UPDATED KIT CORRECT EARLY DESIGN PROBLEMS WITH AN OILIER NOZZLE. *JB