clutch AND steering went OUT last night @ 1650 miles

[FastJ]

EDIT: Original dealer did a dealer trade for another new IRL w/ comp pkg on the *same* afternoon I showed up with the problem car. Drove the new IRL home not five hours after arriving w/ problem car. See last post for a few more details.

I have an '06 IRL w/ comp pkg. there are 1680 miles on my car and I am **JUST** inside Saturn's 30-day, 1500-mile "trade for any reason". last night while driving in very heavy traffic for 14 miles, I just ran in 2nd gear at about 2200 rpm almost the entire way (kept my distance instead of stop-n-go). when i got to campus, the wife called before i could park. so i pulled over and turned the car off. when i turned it back on 5 minutes later, the clutch was GONE... no short throw, very loose, engaged far easier than my truck with 135k miles on its stock clutch!!! so then, i turn into the garage and what else... the steering is looser than my wife's '04 ION-3! wtf? at first i thought hot clutch from driving in traffic, i'll park, let car cool. drove home at 10 pm and was afraid to go over 50 mph b/c the steering was so loose. clutch was just as bad, very loose, no short throw anymore. did an experiment today rolling down a small hill at about 10 mph... turned engine off (key to accy, then back to run to maintain steering control). w/ the engine off and rolling, the steering felt "tight" again like the day i test drove the car.

anyone have ANY idea what to do? i'm tempted to go back to clueless dealer (no, really they are) and say "ummm... 30 days, 1500 miles... i'd like to order the same car but w/ adv. audio and XM and side curtain airbags" and not say anything. i cannot bear to think of them trying to fix not one, but two serious problems. and i don't even want to be told these are my fault. i haven't taken this car over 90 mph (i was just finishing my engine break-in for the love of pete!), i've taken it to max hp but not redline, i avoid potholes, i let the fuel pump run before starting. fuck, i cover it at work to keep it out of the california sun! i love this car! OTOH, i'd HATE for someone else to buy this car w/ these problems.

what should I do???

[Sp00ner]

I would do EXACTLY what you just said... return it. Get a new one...

[matt]

Originally Posted by FastJ

anyone have ANY idea what to do? i'm tempted to go back to clueless dealer (no, really they are) and say "ummm... 30 days, 1500 miles... i'd like to order the same car but w/ adv. audio and XM and side curtain airbags" and not say anything.

You will not be able to order an 06, the other day was the last day for dealers to change any 06 RL allocations. Not that many had them left anaways. Unless you want to wait for an 07, I would try and get it fixed.

[saturndan]

Originally Posted by matt

You will not be able to order an 06, the other day was the last day for dealers to change any 06 RL allocations. Not that many had them left anaways. Unless you want to wait for an 07, I would try and get it fixed.

Never heard that one. If no one else gets more info tonight on this I can check tomorrow and get some answers..? I dont understand how they could be connected. The steering is electric and has been recalibrated and is firmer than a ION3. The reason for the "tighter" steering is there is no assist unless the car is running.
My experience with the return policy is that you are "out" by miles. If the dealer is nice they will show it as 14xx miles and turn it into Saturn Corp for a claim, if they dont, then you will need to call Saturn Corp and see if you can get a "special favor" 800-553-6000.

Matt is correct, the 06 allocation is just about over. Saturn is ending the model year early for certain reasons. They could do a locate for you and get a RL from another dealer in the remote area. You may need to compromise on the equip/ color.

If you love the car just have them look at it. Some problems "seem" complex but turn out to be easy. Let service know ASAP AND talk to your sales consultant about the situation and about a possible return. Be firm but nice.

Later.

[FastJ]

Originally Posted by saturndan

I dont understand how they could be connected.

Yeah, believe me if it hadn't happened to me in the space of five minutes, I'd never believe it myself.

Clarification 1: The steering was so bad I haven't really focused on whether or not the clutch is slipping but I'm pretty sure it isn't. Although she'll come right outta gear w/o pressing clutch pedal with a very light touch on the shifter now. Nope, the first problem that jumped out at me is the actual manual shifting was suddenly loose as hell, like there is something wrong with the gear selector fork or worse (pressure plate?). The action of shifting gears felt firm right up until when I pulled to the side of the road to talk to the wife yesterday. The "feel" of the shifter was firm and then five minutes later when I started the car it was loose/sloppy as hell. I agree it makes NO sense.

Originally Posted by saturndan

The steering is electric and has been recalibrated and is firmer than a ION3. The reason for the "tighter" steering is there is no assist unless the car is running.

Clarification 2: Yup. The power-off steering test was a sanity check. I thought of all the things the dealer would ask and immediately thought of low tire pressure (no) and/or tire wear (no). So, to make sure I wasn't imagining loose steering, I wanted to see how the tires and steering felt w/o power and it *did* feel to me just like when I bought it. So scratch tire problems, tie rods, etc. since steering w/o power felt, frankly, GREAT: a nice solid, firm feel. So that seems to say something is radically wrong with the electric assist, suspension, motor mount????? Because above 50 mph on the way home the car was skipping down the freeway (concrete, no seams or potholes) and the steering was about as loose as the '78 Pontiac I drove in h.s... that is, dangerously so.

Originally Posted by saturndan

Let service know ASAP AND talk to your sales consultant about the situation and about a possible return. Be firm but nice.

Later.

Wilco. Will appreciate any further info too!

[Freakazoid]

yea 06's are bye bye, from what i heard GM is cutting back production on pretty much ALL models

[John]

Are you sure a wheel isnt falling off?

[zeebees]

There is no reason why a new car should have clutch and steering problems (electrical problems). Return it and get a new one or get a cobalt ss supercharged if you can't find a 06 redline

[FastJ]

Originally Posted by John

Are you sure a wheel isnt falling off?

That was the very first thing I checked as soon as it happened. The next morning, I jacked the car up and double-checked the lugs.

EDIT: The power-off steering test would've felt funny too, I think, it that were really the case.

[FastJ]

saw online that a few other dealers in LA still have IRLs w/ comp pkg, etc. my local dlr doesn't have any. will be demanding (politely at first ) a dlr trade for another one.

thanks for the help! will post how things go.