1994 SATURN SW

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Burning through a quart of oil every 500-1,000 miles, Fouled spark plugs, Loss of power and rough idle

Fix: Rings carbon up and lose tension, or ring lands crack. Proper fix is engine rebuild with new pistons, rings, and hone. Short-term band-aid is frequent oil top-ups and hope. Rebuild labor runs 12-16 hours.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Pink milkshake in coolant overflow tank (coolant in trans fluid), Transmission slipping or won't engage gears, Overheating transmission, Sudden loss of forward gears

Fix: Internal cooler in radiator side-tank fails, cross-contaminates coolant and ATF, destroying clutches. Requires radiator replacement, transmission flush or rebuild, and all coolant system service. If caught early (flush only): 4-5 hours. If trans is cooked: 8-12 hours for rebuild or replacement.

Estimated cost: $600-2,800

Typical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: White smoke from exhaust, Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Overheating under load, Bubbles in coolant reservoir when running, Milky oil on dipstick or cap

Fix: SOHC design has thin gasket area between cylinders; overheating or age causes failure. Must resurface head, replace gasket, timing chain, and water pump while you're in there. 8-10 hours labor.

Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Excessive engine movement on acceleration, Vibration at idle in gear, Visible sagging of engine/trans assembly

Fix: Hydraulic mount on passenger side fatigues and collapses. Replacement is straightforward with engine support bar. 1.5-2 hours labor.

Estimated cost: $150-280

Symptoms: Key won't turn in ignition, Key gets stuck in ignition, Steering wheel locks and won't release, Intermittent no-start even with good battery

Fix: Tumblers wear or lock mechanism binds. Sometimes WD-40 and wiggling works temporarily. Proper fix is lock cylinder replacement (requires disabling airbag and steering column disassembly). 2-3 hours labor.

Estimated cost: $250-450

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Coolant seepage or drips from front of engine, Overheating due to coolant loss, Visible cracks in black plastic housing, Low coolant warning light

Fix: Plastic becomes brittle with heat cycles and cracks. Replace thermostat housing assembly and thermostat together. 1.5-2 hours labor.

Estimated cost: $180-320

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: No-start with good spark and crank, Sputtering and loss of power at highway speed, Long crank time before starting, Dies when fuel tank is below 1/4 tank

Fix: In-tank pump wears out. Must drop fuel tank to replace. Wagon body makes access slightly easier than sedan. 2.5-3.5 hours labor.

Estimated cost: $350-600