Saturn Employee

[SteveSky67]

Originally Posted by saf0775

By "cones" are you referring to the white things on the back of the headlamps? Sky's, unlike most other GM cars, have the headlamps affixed to the hood instead of the frame. This makes adjustments difficult. The "cone" is a guide for the insertion of a special tool that "aims" the bulbs (not the lens) up or down. I had the same debate with a technician about a year ago. I proved him wrong by searching through our stack of special tools and locating the headlamp adjuster.

I hope this wins some people money over bets as to what the cones were for. The most ridiculous thing Ive heard about them is that they were tunnels for moisture to escape.

Yes, that is what i was talking about, one guy thought it provided the light for the reflector, i said there is no bulb in it, but thanks for answering the question...any answer to the rub marks on the roof?....Thanks SteveSky67

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by bobarry

Welcome Stephen.

Here's a nagging Sky question for you..
How many (%) complain about the (daytime) unreadable gages & dic display?

The local techs say 'they are all like that'. I have 20/20 but can't see the gas gage or dic at all with shades. OK at nite - the 'dimmer knob' works fine.

It seems the Sky 'computer' could be tweaked to have them always 'in the nightime mode', ignoring the sensor that dims them during the day.

Your experiences would be appreciated.

Had my Redline/auto for a year, loving every minute of it (and retirement!)

Bo

Most of our concerns (speaking about my experiences only) have come from people who accidentally hit the dimmer switch with their knee and complain about the illumination level being to low. Speaking as a customer, I whole heartedly agree with you. Something should be done to tweak the BCM (Body Control Module, it controls the DRL's). The best advice I could give you is to put electrical tape over the sensor (not at all illegal). True, your headlights will always be on, but since the sensor is photo voltaic and not temperature activated, it fools the BCM into thinking it's constantly night and the dash lights are always bright.

There are times that you can't even read the clock because of the sunlight.

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by SteveSky67

Well, I noticed white rub marks on the black material whenever i raise the roof...is this something in the trunk that is rubbing against the roof?....also, i want to a car meet and i had the hood open and someone asked me what was those two plastic coned shaped things on each side, i had no idea and he had no idea...do you know?.While getting a Certifield letter signed one day i was checking the wheel wells on a Aura and they had the same problem......thanks for answering as best you can, Steve.

White marks, aye? To the best of my knowledge, there's nothing white in the roofs at all...unless thats changed. I completely disassembled a roof on an early 07 (it had a bent bow needing replacement) but there was no white material in the headliner at all. Which part of the roof has the white marks? the back of the roof folds onto the trunk with the glass side facing down (maybe something on the carpet making marks). The front of the roof folds onto the back half, canvas facing the lid liner (maybe something on the liner rubbing). The sails fold into themselves and down into the trunk recesses. If the marks are on the sails, I would check the seam (the one that goes from top to bottom, where it latches into the top of the trunk) on the spine of the sail. Might have something wedged in there.

If all else fails , try cleaning the top from stem to stern with an approved canvas cleaner. Then clean/vac the inside of the trunk from top to bottom. Use something like Formula 409 or Windex to clean the metal areas where the weatherstrip meets the trunk lid. These solvents wont leave a "residue" that would get all gunked up later. Double check the hinges at the aft end of the trunk. In some cases, white lithium grease is used to lubricate the hinges in the trunk, which has been known to leave white spots/marks on things.

Hope this helps. In any event, your trying to rule out causes of the marks instead of looking for it directly. It's a detective game sometimes with our cars and sometimes we have to figure them out backwards. But that's why we love them, right?

[Elff]

That's really awesome that you have been able to move around like that and stay employed by saturn. It says alot for the company's "Family" philosophy.

[Celt03]

OKAY - I am with Steve on this one . . .

The white marks are where the folds occur when the top is stored - and that includes the areas that end up in the center,
I have had this problem from day one & so have most people I know with Kappa's.
The dealer just shrugs at us and says "they all do this - it's the nature of the design & the fabric".
I have washed the top, I have scrubbed the top, I have treated the top;
I have gone through & cleaned out the trunk area with a fine tooth comb to no avail;
AND
I have had the car detailed TWICE by two different people that I completely trust trying to get rid of this problem.
But I put that top down for more than a day and the white spots are there when it goes up.
I am super persnickity about all my cars & this is the one thing that drives me the most nuts about my Sky *

(& yes folks - this is way ahead of my other peeves:
i.e.the dumb@$$ waterfall cupholders that chooses when it wants to open - but ALWAYS opens perfectly for the dealer ;
the lack of vacuum for the brakes upon a cold start;
no lock on the waterfall compartment;
the inability to change out the lock on the glovebox so it can be keyed differently than the ignition;
and /or the fact that GM saw no reason to provide us with a valet key to keep people out of my glovebox).

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by Celt03

OKAY - I am with Steve on this one . . .

The white marks are where the folds occur when the top is stored - and that includes the areas that end up in the center,
I have had this problem from day one & so have most people I know with Kappa's.
The dealer just shrugs at us and says "they all do this - it's the nature of the design & the fabric".
I have washed the top, I have scrubbed the top, I have treated the top;
I have gone through & cleaned out the trunk area with a fine tooth comb to no avail;
AND
I have had the car detailed TWICE by two different people that I completely trust trying to get rid of this problem.
But I put that top down for more than a day and the white spots are there when it goes up.
I am super persnickity about all my cars & this is the one thing that drives me the most nuts about my Sky *

(& yes folks - this is way ahead of my other peeves:
i.e.the dumb@$$ waterfall cupholders that chooses when it wants to open - but ALWAYS opens perfectly for the dealer ;
the lack of vacuum for the brakes upon a cold start;
no lock on the waterfall compartment;
the inability to change out the lock on the glovebox so it can be keyed differently than the ignition;
and /or the fact that GM saw no reason to provide us with a valet key to keep people out of my glovebox).

I think I might have to side with my co workers on this one. If the "spots" your referring to look like white deodorant on a black t-shirt, then it's "the nature of the design". To put it more exactly, it's the fabric and the dye used to color it. Wherever the top seems to stretch, chafe, or crunch it shows up. I think the biggest part that gets most of the "white" is the sides where it folds down into the recesses around the gas tank (on the outer edges). Thats where the fabric comes into contact with the trunk liner when you push the top down to close the deck lid. It rubs pretty bad right there and I would imagine thats where most of us will complain (in the future) that our top is coming apart at the seems.

On the bright side, the more people complain about it the more likely GM will be to fix the problem. You can't sell a car that lots of people complain about and it seems, to me, something you could fix easily. They have PhD's in think tanks for this reason.

[BlackSkyPilot]

Originally Posted by saf0775

Kenny has a sky? Wow...it's been a few years since I've talked to him. I figured you would have bought it from Tal Boatright. Thanks for giving me Kenny's userid, I'll have to drop him a line.

If your still in Jax let me know what dealership you go to. I can recommend the top tech at each of the three dealerships to you. If you still go to the Avenues, make sure to have Mike Voit work on your car. He and I were stall neighbors in the shop and we taught each other a TON of information. I still talk to him weekly via MSN messenger when we're at work.

Stephen

<--------------I'm homeless!

Right now, I keep my Sky in North Carolina in the hangar with my airplane when I'm at work (60 on and 30 off). When I'm back in the States, I tend to travel with one or the other and go pretty much where ever I please. I still get to Jax quite a bit (lived there for 19 years and Dan Ewton sold me my first three Saturns). I'll have to remember Mike's name. For the most part I haven't had any major problems with either of my Sky's (had a Baseline first). I did have a head scratching issue with a "Service Brake System" message on the DIC. "SVC BRAKE SYSTEM" Message on DIC

We'll see how it goes in the future.

How about a tech at Regency? I go there as well. Not so much to Orange Park though.

[Darkwing]

saf0775

I want to commend you on jumping into this forum with both feet.
I'm not so sure if I was in your position I would have exposed myself to the possible wrath of Sky owners here. Thanks for stepping up to the plate! You're one of the dedicated types that make all of us proud to have bought one of these fine automobiles.
Thanks again for your input on this forum,
Dave

[RedSkyMan]

My first thought was you're like a doctor showing up at a convention full of hypochondriacs. You handled It like a pro.

[SKY Spy]

Originally Posted by bobarry

Welcome Stephen.

Here's a nagging Sky question for you..
How many (%) complain about the (daytime) unreadable gages & dic display?

The local techs say 'they are all like that'. I have 20/20 but can't see the gas gage or dic at all with shades. OK at nite - the 'dimmer knob' works fine.

It seems the Sky 'computer' could be tweaked to have them always 'in the nightime mode', ignoring the sensor that dims them during the day.

Your experiences would be appreciated.

Had my Redline/auto for a year, loving every minute of it (and retirement!)

Bo

What I do and a lot of other folks here do is to turn the foglights on during the day, this turns off your headlights but it turns on the marker lights and your interior dash lights. This has solved the issue for me and for many others...

Regards,

BA...

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by RedSkyMan

My first thought was you're like a doctor showing up at a convention full of hypochondriacs. You handled It like a pro.

Aristotle once said: To live a good life, one must do best that which he does best, not for himself but for everyone else. I try to live by that philosophy. This is me, using what I know, to help make your headaches a little less painful.

Besides, sometimes it's nice to have a doctor in the family. You'll always have someone to turn to and not be afraid your going to pay out the @ss for it.

Stephen

[ceeker]

Originally Posted by saf0775

Aristotle once said: To live a good life, one must do best that which he does best, not for himself but for everyone else. I try to live by that philosophy. This is me, using what I know, to help make your headaches a little less painful.

Besides, sometimes it's nice to have a doctor in the family. You'll always have someone to turn to and not be afraid your going to pay out the @ss for it.

Stephen

Well said!

[ceeker]

What do you think of the waste gate adjustment?

Some have also done the turbo solenoid bypass, (Not Me)

Just wondering what you think this is doing to the engine!

[Jeff Donald]

Originally Posted by bobarry

Welcome Stephen.

Here's a nagging Sky question for you..
How many (%) complain about the (daytime) unreadable gages & dic display?

The local techs say 'they are all like that'. I have 20/20 but can't see the gas gage or dic at all with shades. OK at nite - the 'dimmer knob' works fine.

It seems the Sky 'computer' could be tweaked to have them always 'in the nightime mode', ignoring the sensor that dims them during the day.

Your experiences would be appreciated.

Had my Redline/auto for a year, loving every minute of it (and retirement!)

Bo

This info was posted on the Solstice forum by Small Dealer

Originally Posted by GM Service Bulletin (slightly edited by Small Dealer)


Subject: Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) Backlighting Inoperative During Daylight Hours (Reprogram BCM)

Models: 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu, Malibu Maxx
2005-2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
2006 Chevrolet HHR
2005-2006 Pontiac G6, Pursuit (Canada Only)
2006 Pontiac Solstice

Condition

Some customers may comment that the backlighting on the IPC does not illuminate in the daylight hours. They may further state that the backlighting does function at night, but not in the day time.

Cause

On these vehicles, backlighting for the IPC is not enabled unless the vehicle's lighting photocell determines that there is a nighttime ambient condition. Backlighting is not controlled through the use of the park lamp or headlamp switch. The conditions under which the photocell activates the backlighting may not satisfy each particular customer’s personal expectations, or the customer may simply prefer to have the backlighting always illuminated on the IPC.

Correction

For customers who wish to have the IPC backlighting always illuminated, a new service calibration is now available that will activate the backlighting to full intensity during daytime hours. Reprogram the BCM using SPS.



GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.

[jazzyjet]

welcome amd glad to have you on board

[saf0775]

Thanks Jeff. I wasn't aware of that bulletin. I just looked it up in the system and you forgot a line of text that would be very important here:

Models: 2004-2006 Chevrolet Malibu, Malibu Maxx
2005-2006 Chevrolet Cobalt
2006 Chevrolet HHR
2005-2006 Pontiac G6, Pursuit (Canada Only)
2006 Pontiac Solstice
2007 Saturn Sky Built Prior to VIN Breakpoint 7Y102344

I'll try reprogramming my Sky in the morning and see how it works out.

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by jazzyjet

welcome amd glad to have you on board

Thanks friend. I'm hear to answer any questions you have.