Saturn Employee

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by rmcpherson

Welcome Stephen !!


Heah BlackSkyPilot, Nice to know there are other Pilots on this forum, I fly a Piper turbo Arrow myself as well as a Bluestone Sky RL.

Thanks for the welcome! I used to cruise Virginia Beach when I was Navy (1995-2000). Good times.

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by rufusmacblorf

Welcome, Stephen. I'm down in Vancouver, WA, so hopefully we'll meet at a local event one of these days. With your background, you appear to have become the most popular person on the forum within a few days. I was going to ask if you have an inside scoop on the GM tune, but I think I'll wait for the feeding frenzy to die down.

I'm always up for meeting new people. I was planning on a roatrip to Canada real soon. I just moved here from Los Angeles, so I'm still in awe of downtown Seattle. When the newness wears off I'll be heading up to Victoria. Can I take a ferry ride there with my car?

By GM tune..are you refering to what upgrades GM will be offering for the 08-09 Sky's?

[rufusmacblorf]

I'm actually in Vancouver, Washington--just across the river from Portland.

Victoria's a wonderful city. It's been a few years since I've been there. As I recall, there are three ferries going to Victoria: one from Port Angeles, one from Seattle and one from Vancouver, BC. I'd recommend the Port Angeles ferry, since there are some good twisty roads out on the penninsula. All the ferries are nice. You shouldn't have any problems with your Sky.

I was referring to this tune, which has spawned a lot of excitement and speculation: 290 hp gm ecm tune - confirmed.

[BlackSkyPilot]

Originally Posted by rmcpherson

Heah BlackSkyPilot, Nice to know there are other Pilots on this forum, I fly a Piper turbo Arrow myself as well as a Bluestone Sky RL.

The plane in the background of the picture I posted (and my avatar) is a Tango that I built. It's been flying for about 2 1/2 years now.

With a car called "Sky" you'd think there would be more pilots owning them!!

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by rufusmacblorf

I'm actually in Vancouver, Washington--just across the river from Portland.

Victoria's a wonderful city. It's been a few years since I've been there. As I recall, there are three ferries going to Victoria: one from Port Angeles, one from Seattle and one from Vancouver, BC. I'd recommend the Port Angeles ferry, since there are some good twisty roads out on the penninsula. All the ferries are nice. You shouldn't have any problems with your Sky.

I was referring to this tune, which has spawned a lot of excitement and speculation: 290 hp gm ecm tune - confirmed

Thanks for the heads up. Sorry about the Canada confusion. I'm new here in WA.

[rufusmacblorf]

No problem. Happens all the time.

[Blue Sky Redline]

Any idea about the GM tune becoming available?

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by Blue Sky Redline

Any idea about the GM tune becoming available?

There's nothing in our system yet. I checked the ECM calibration software program. It shows the standard software patches, but nothing that comes up as an upgrade option.

When I know, you will know. Promise.

[Natalie]

Welcome Stephen...nice to have a fellow Puget Sounder in the house!

You are awesome to offer your expertise on here!

I have a sticky buttress...took it to the dealer (Saturn of Lynnwood) and they replaced it and guess what...still sticks!

Can you suggest a lubricant that is safe to use.

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by Natalie

Welcome Stephen...nice to have a fellow Puget Sounder in the house!

You are awesome to offer your expertise on here!

I have a sticky buttress...took it to the dealer (Saturn of Lynnwood) and they replaced it and guess what...still sticks!

Can you suggest a lubricant that is safe to use.

Are you sure it's the buttress thats causing the stick? The cables ends that are used to release the lock clamps are....not sufficient....IMHO. They have plastic balls on the end of steel wires. When the balls break, the wire gets pulled through the loom and your buttress is permanently locked down. As you may know, you can't gain access to the trunk through the passenger compartment, no matter how much plastic you remove. Then, it's just you and a pick tool and a prayer to the almighty you don't scratch the paint trying to pick the lock clamp through the chrome eyelet (Yes, I've done the prayer). The eyelet, at that point, becomes a total loss and needs to be replaced.

My point: have the Techs check that the release wires are taught. This means removing the deck lid liner and making sure there is no play between the plastic ball ends and the metal loop on the lock clamp. Excessive play = not enough "pull" on the clamp...hence...a sticky situation. Do not try to remove the liner yourself. Even an experienced Tech can "break" some of the plastic push pins on the liner, but we usually keep them in stock for just such instances.

Case in point: The hood release cables on the Saturn Vue (03-06) have the exact same problem. People were lubricating the clamps and adjusting the springs for the LONGEST time before GM realized it was just a simple issue of the cables stretching and not giving enough pull to release the hood latch. If the cable stretches to far...well...at that point, you have to remove the entire fascia (and doing that without having the ability of opening the hood is a trick only mastered by a few) to gain access to the lock spring.

[G8TR]

How great it is to have someone here that has all this knowledge and is willing to pass it on. Thanks, I've already learned a bunch from other people, but your technical knowledge can't be beat.

Welcome to the forum!

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by ricthar

How great it is to have someone here that has all this knowledge and is willing to pass it on. Thanks, I've already learned a bunch from other people, but your technical knowledge can't be beat.

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks Ricthar. Where in FL are you? I lived there for a few years myself.

[sned45]

I will be buying a Redline in a couple months and was wondering how strong is the automatic trans is.

Is it ok to down shift the auto trans as you would a manual during spirited driving?

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by sned45

I will be buying a Redline in a couple months and was wondering how strong is the automatic trans is.

Is it ok to down shift the auto trans as you would a manual during spirited driving?

Honestly, for a RL I'm not sure about the down shifting. You are physicaly able to do so, but I'm not sure of the long term effects on the clutches or the solonoids. The automatics are still pretty quick off the line without having to shift manually...not as much as the 5 speed sticks...but they are still MUCH quicker then a 2.4

Thats why I'm eyeballing some of our 08RL's on the lot. Playing around in Seattle is like doing so in San Fransisco...lots of hills...so I want an auto myself.

[G8TR]

Originally Posted by saf0775

Thanks Ricthar. Where in FL are you? I lived there for a few years myself.

Yeah, saw you were in Jacksonville. My home is Tampa, (at least until I retire). This just isn't Florida anymore, so we may go somewhere else in about 3 years.

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by ricthar

Yeah, saw you were in Jacksonville. My home is Tampa, (at least until I retire). This just isn't Florida anymore, so we may go somewhere else in about 3 years.

I used to hang in Ibor city..back when it was fun. Ex-inlaws lived near Oldsmar.

[wizardofflight]

Welcome saf0775,

I just picked up my Sky on June 9th from Renton Saturn. It was the Midnight blue one with the Black/Red interior. You folks did a great job! Best car buying experience I have ever had. Thank you!

I work right across the freeway from the Saturn dealership, So you'll be seeing my Sky there for regular service.

Alan

[saf0775]

Originally Posted by wizardofflight

Welcome saf0775,

I just picked up my Sky on June 9th from Renton Saturn. It was the Midnight blue one with the Black/Red interior. You folks did a great job! Best car buying experience I have ever had. Thank you!

I work right across the freeway from the Saturn dealership, So you'll be seeing my Sky there for regular service.

Alan

Alan,

I take a measure of personal pride in your car. I'm the one who certified it for sale on the lot and put the first tank of gas in it for you. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you ordered that car specifically like that? Someone mentioned to me that you wouldn't buy it unless it was Blue with the black/red interior so you had to order it that way.

I saw you on the lot with the salesman when you came to check out the car. I was probably 30 feet from you and my Sky was even closer. Small world. Don't be a stranger to Renton, but remember we have several dealerships in the greater Seattle area that would be more then happy to answer any questions or take care of any concerns you have if the need arises.

Stephen

[wizardofflight]

Hello,

Very cool thank you! It was a special order, I figured that if I was going to go for I'd might as well get it the way I wanted, but the wait was a killer.

I simply love the car, it is baseline Sky and I was a bit concerned that maybe I should have gone with a Redline, but after driving both I have to say that I prefer the baseline Sky the ride is smoother and it has plenty of acceleration for what I need.

Thanks again for taking good care of my ride!

Alan

Originally Posted by saf0775

Alan,

I take a measure of personal pride in your car. I'm the one who certified it for sale on the lot and put the first tank of gas in it for you. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you ordered that car specifically like that? Someone mentioned to me that you wouldn't buy it unless it was Blue with the black/red interior so you had to order it that way.

I saw you on the lot with the salesman when you came to check out the car. I was probably 30 feet from you and my Sky was even closer. Small world. Don't be a stranger to Renton, but remember we have several dealerships in the greater Seattle area that would be more then happy to answer any questions or take care of any concerns you have if the need arises.

Stephen