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1997 Saturn Wagon odd noises

Tiny
JLBARKLOW
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 SATURN STATION WAGON
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
I have a 1997 Saturn station wagon. The car is in great shape, looks like new, no leaks, everything works, has 48k miles. When I start out backing out of the driveway or pulling away from the curb, I hear a sound like gravel roling around the inside of a plastic milk bottle for a second or 2, and then the noise disappears. The noise sounds like it's coming from right under the steering column lower cover. Also, it seems like I can hear the heater vent door under the dash on the passenger side continously opening and closing. Any idea what these problems could be and how to fix them? Also, how do I tell if my car is an S1 or S2? Thanks! Jeff
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Friday, June 24th, 2011 AT 1:33 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Does your car have abs?If it does then that noise your hearing when first taking off is the abs self check which would be normal. As far as the noise coming from the heater duc sounding like something always running could be a broken recirculation door being broken you would have to do some checking to see if it was broken. Also are your bumpers black. Or painted the same color as the car?
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Friday, June 24th, 2011 AT 1:54 PM
Tiny
JLBARKLOW
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks! The bumpers are the same color as the car. I don't know whether this car came with ABS (what is this?) Or not, but either way, I cannot imagine the noise I'm hearing could in any way be considered normal. When I test drove this car several years ago (before my Mom purchased it), the noise definitely was not there. With respect to the circulation door, how do I check that?
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Friday, June 24th, 2011 AT 2:07 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
If your bumpers are painted you have a SW2 model. If you have abs they make a lot of noise during the self check when you first start moving.A lot of people have complained about the noise but that noise normal and sounds like what you described. But without hearing it I can't tell you for sure if its that noise. Open your hood look at your brake master cylinder do you have like three electrical connectors going to it?If you do then you have abs. To check the to see if the recirculation door is broken you will have to remove the dash top. There is two 8mm bolts on the passenger side going straight into the dash top remove the two screws and then you can pop up the dash top where the bolt go in. Then the dash top slides out of the clips by the windshield. Just be careful not to damage the vin plate on the drivers side by the windshield when sliding the dash top out. Then you will be able to see the recirculation door to see if that is the cause of your noise.
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Saturday, June 25th, 2011 AT 1:57 AM

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