[Mydragonfly71]

Hello everyone. I'm new to these particular forums and have two questions. First I just want everyone to know that while I realize how forums work, most of the time I try to search to see if a particular topic has already been posted on, I don't find much assistance with that so I'm just going to ask the question anyway. I'm not lazy, I just don't seem to find the answers I'm looking for.

That being said, I apologize in advance for any repetitious questions I am about to ask. Also, please note that I am a female and love working on cars and this one simple thing has just stumped me.

My first question is this: My boyfriend has a 2006 Saturn ION 2 Sedan. I see that these forums are for a ION Redline so can someone please tell me what the difference is between what my boyfriend's car is and what a Redline is?

The second question is this: He has manual window cranks. The other day he went to wind up his drivers side window and the glass somehow got knocked off the track. We need to take the door panel off to get to the innards to fix the problem. There are two pop rivets on the outer part of the door and a single screw is located on the part of the door that you pull to close the door. I removed that and the pop rivets.

The door panel popped off easily around the bottom of the door and along the sides, however, the window crank and the door release is preventing me from completely removing the panel from the door. Any suggestions on what I can do here? I contemplated removing the door entirely, however the speaker wires are enclosed in a flexible rubber tube and are connected to the door and the rest of the car. I don't want to dismantle any more than I need to, but given that I know more about cars than he does, he's leaving this up to me to tinker with. If anyone can provide some answers to my questions, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,
Judi

 

[RLProfessional]

Your boyfriend owns the not supercharged version of the Saturn Ion. The Saturn Ion Redline also has different suspension, different engine, different interior (we have Recaro leather racing seats), different rims, 17" rims, tires, leather wrapped steering wheel, etc. Also since he owns the sedan he has the 4 door version, we have the "quad coupe" which is 4 doors but they are suicide doors.
The Ion 2 will drive 0-60 in maybe 9 seconds. The Redline goes around 6 seconds and with work can go much faster.

They're very different cars just the same basic look.

With your other question, maybe someone with more experience on door panels can help you.

 

[Sp00ner]

Aside from the obvious visual differences, the Redline has a completely different motor, tranny, brakes, most of the parts connected to performance.

Redline has a 2.0L supercharged 4cyl, 5 spd manual, 4 wheel disc brakes, etc.

 

[Mydragonfly71]

RLP,
Thank you so much for the explanation. I'm not really fond of his car since it doesn't have the interior power stuff that I personally like in a vehicle. But it gets him to and from work and he likes it so ya know.

Two weeks ago I purchased my very first brand new vehicle. I've owned 16 cars in my life (I'm 39, BTW) and I was excited to get it. When I was 16 I started learning how to work on cars thanks in huge part to my boyfriend at that time. By the time I was 17 I was rebuilding carburetors (sp?) and replacing manual and hydrolic clutches. I really love doing that sort of stuff. I even replaced a head gasket by myself in my mothers 1986 Chevy Celebrity. I guess I'm just drawn towards this sort of stuff.

I love to learn about cars and kept my old car when I bought my new one just so that I would have something to tinker around with.

I'm trying to work on his car today so I'm really hoping someone will see my post and will be able to help me out with this. I figured that since it's not an "under the hood" question, that someone here would have some answers.

 

[Sp00ner]

Generally, the window crank and door handle should have a locking device on them, on the old style window cranks there was a 'pinch lock' (i cant recall the name) that would slide on after the crank was attached. Usually located between the door panel and the crank, looks like a C, but with dimples to lock into the shaft coming from the door.

Same with the door handle, usually a screw that you can access with you pull the handle and hold it there.

I've never worked on that part of any Ion, but that's the most common setups I've seen in cars in general.

 

[Mydragonfly71]

Generally, the window crank and door handle should have a locking device on them, on the old style window cranks there was a 'pinch lock' (i cant recall the name) that would slide on after the crank was attached. Usually located between the door panel and the crank, looks like a C, but with dimples to lock into the shaft coming from the door.

Same with the door handle, usually a screw that you can access with you pull the handle and hold it there.

I've never worked on that part of any Ion, but that's the most common setups I've seen in cars in general.

I just looked at it. Between the crank handle and the door panel is a solid piece of round plastic. There doesn't seem to be any way to separate it or pull it off because it's a continual piece, meaning there's no separation point. How the heck they put this thing together is beyond me. At this point, since I don't want to break anything, I'm hesitant to pull it off. Also, because I don't know how the window got off track to begin with, I have to be very careful with how I dismantle the panel because I'm trying to avoid making a trip to the junk yard for a new piece of glass.

 

[RLProfessional]

You definitely know some good stuff under the hood then! I am what most would call a basic DIY, Do it Yourselfer...if you have instructions on how to do something - I'll try to fix it. But I just have some experience with the basics under the hood.

And even if it's not an "under the hood" question, we can all probably still help just as much as the next guy over the net. We're all [mostly] nice here. haha.

 

[Mydragonfly71]

You definitely know some good stuff under the hood then! I am what most would call a basic DIY, Do it Yourselfer...if you have instructions on how to do something - I'll try to fix it. But I just have some experience with the basics under the hood.

And even if it's not an "under the hood" question, we can all probably still help just as much as the next guy over the net. We're all [mostly] nice here. haha.

Thanks! I pride myself in the fact that I'm the only female in my family that knows how to change brakes, oil, head gaskets and do a tune up the old fashioned way lol... changing spark plug wires, gapping spark plugs before putting them on the car, changing out the distributor cap and all that stuff. Unfortunately all the new cars now a days aren't built to be tinkered with. Now you have to take them to a certified mechanic if you need anything done.

I miss the old cars that required carburetors. This fuel injection stuff is okay but the old stuff is more fun to work on.

My old car is a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2. Pretty decent for an Escort, but since my insurance rates it as a 16 (sport car), I don't consider it an Escort. I consider it a sport car. It goes pretty fast for being stock but now that I have a new car, perhaps I'll try to modify it a bit. I have two children so it's really cramped inside which was the reason for getting the new car.

BTW, the new car I just bought is a 2010 Chevy Malibu. When I looked under the hood every single thing was encased in plastic... the wires, plugs, hoses and belts right down to the battery. I can do nothing with it Then again, it is new, so I shouldn't need to mess with it... but my dark side really wants to lol. Since everything is basically protected from dust and corrosives etc, I figure in 10 years, if the plastic covers are removed, one should be able to lick the engine since it would still be "clean"

 

[Sp00ner]

I used to love old cars, and then I found the sexiness that is computer tuning... if I never have to adjust another QuadraJunk again, I'll be a happy man.

 

[RLProfessional]

Thanks! I pride myself in the fact that I'm the only female in my family that knows how to change brakes, oil, head gaskets and do a tune up the old fashioned way lol... changing spark plug wires, gapping spark plugs before putting them on the car, changing out the distributor cap and all that stuff. Unfortunately all the new cars now a days aren't built to be tinkered with. Now you have to take them to a certified mechanic if you need anything done.

I miss the old cars that required carburetors. This fuel injection stuff is okay but the old stuff is more fun to work on.

My old car is a 2000 Ford Escort ZX2. Pretty decent for an Escort, but since my insurance rates it as a 16 (sport car), I don't consider it an Escort. I consider it a sport car. It goes pretty fast for being stock but now that I have a new car, perhaps I'll try to modify it a bit. I have two children so it's really cramped inside which was the reason for getting the new car.

BTW, the new car I just bought is a 2010 Chevy Malibu. When I looked under the hood every single thing was encased in plastic... the wires, plugs, hoses and belts right down to the battery. I can do nothing with it Then again, it is new, so I shouldn't need to mess with it... but my dark side really wants to lol. Since everything is basically protected from dust and corrosives etc, I figure in 10 years, if the plastic covers are removed, one should be able to lick the engine since it would still be "clean"

hah yeah. It would seem that the car makers are trying to make the engine look cleaner and more of a "Let us fix your problem, don't try to do it yourself! You'll have to take all of this off and..well..who wants that??" Haha.

 

[Mydragonfly71]

hah yeah. It would seem that the car makers are trying to make the engine look cleaner and more of a "Let us fix your problem, don't try to do it yourself! You'll have to take all of this off and..well..who wants that??" Haha.

Maybe since my kids are in school, now I should try to go for my ASE Certification just for giggles

 

[RLProfessional]

Maybe since my kids are in school, now I should try to go for my ASE Certification just for giggles

Go for it! Haha. Something nice to mention in a job resume

 

[Mydragonfly71]

Go for it! Haha. Something nice to mention in a job resume

Mmmm... j-o-b what is that? Oh wait... isn't that that thing where you slave away for a pittance of a paycheck? :huh:

 

[RLProfessional]

Hahahahaha sadly

 

[watts_up]

Ok, I have never done an ion sedan manual window crank, but I worked in a body shop for 20+ years and have done mostly every style of window crank out there. Typically for GM, there will be a clip just like sp00ner described. It may be hiding behind the plastic ring you described, or it may be in front of it all the way up against the handle crank part. There is a special tool to remove/install this clip, it's like a flat piece of sheet metal with a cut-out that fits around the shaft and pops the clip off. You can get this tool at most auto parts stores, and it's not expensive. When you use this tool, push firmly against the window crank shaft, and slowly crank the handle around until the clip seats into the tool and it will pop right out.

The only other style window crank I recall has a nut or a screw hidden under a cap on the interior of the car, located at the end of the shaft where the drank mounts. See if there is a cap that you can pick out to reveal a fastener there. Good luck!

 

[54yroldkid]

The plastic ring is to keep the window crank from scratching the inner door panel. There is a "C" clip on the window crank that you need to push out from the crank side to release the crank from the stud using the removal tool. This is a special tool that can be bought at either a Mobile Tool track or at reputable auto parts store or you can find em online. I have found special tools there and they are not expensive depending on your budget.