----- Original Message -----
Don't forget to check it for birdies before buying. I have a 1998 Saturn SC2 that has a *nasty* noise emission on 2m right smack on top of the calling frequency.
-- 73 de Maggie K3XS
Hi Maggie (and the list),
This is a very common issue w/ Saturn vehicles. I worked for a Saturn dealer until 1998, and found the problem myself in every SL and SC I drove.
It also occurs in my 91 SL1, and the official cause is said to be the ECU (main computer). My vehicle is very well grounded, although I haven't built a copper box around the ECU yet.. hi hi
It's also a good idea on these vehicles to attach ground straps from the trunk lid to the chassis.. I used the braid from some old CATV coax, with ring terminals crimped onto each side. Anyone using a trunk-mounted antenna with a Saturn might want to add these.. This cured some pretty strange antenna problems I was having, as it did for others folks I know..
Kyle Yoksh KØKN Olathe, Kansas Amsat# 35249
On 3/9/07, Kyle Yoksh yokshs@sbcglobal.net wrote:
This is a very common issue w/ Saturn vehicles. I worked for a Saturn dealer until 1998, and found the problem myself in every SL and SC I drove. It also occurs in my 91 SL1, and the official cause is said to be the ECU (main computer).
Sweeps I've done with a handitalkie certainly seem to confirm that (although my shop manual refers to the culprit box as a "Powertrain Control Module"). Other than the relatively narrow band of frequencies it squats on there's no other problem.
In fact I worked through UO-14 one day while driving to work with a through-the-glass dual-band antenna and my FT-90. (I switched to a Comet SBB-5 when the through-the-glass RatShack special fell off a few months back.)
-- 73 de Maggie K3XS Editor, Phil-Mont Mobile Radio Club Blurb - http://www.phil-mont.org Elecraft K2 #1641 -- AOPA 925383 -- ARRL 39280
Interesting. I have driven a Saturn SW2 and now drive a 2000 Saturn LW2, and have not seen birdies on the 2m calling freq. I have noted that when I operate 40m SSB, sometimes the temperature idiot light comes on adn goes out -- the only RFI I've seen in the vehicle. I put chokes around the ECM mounted on the engine, and left it at that. I understand there's another ECM somewhere, but haven't bothered to hunt for it.
Good luck! 73, Jim wb4gcs@amsat.org
Kyle Yoksh wrote:
----- Original Message -----
Don't forget to check it for birdies before buying. I have a 1998 Saturn SC2 that has a *nasty* noise emission on 2m right smack on top of the calling frequency.
-- 73 de Maggie K3XS
Hi Maggie (and the list),
This is a very common issue w/ Saturn vehicles. I worked for a Saturn dealer until 1998, and found the problem myself in every SL and SC I drove.
It also occurs in my 91 SL1, and the official cause is said to be the ECU (main computer). My vehicle is very well grounded, although I haven't built a copper box around the ECU yet.. hi hi
It's also a good idea on these vehicles to attach ground straps from the trunk lid to the chassis.. I used the braid from some old CATV coax, with ring terminals crimped onto each side. Anyone using a trunk-mounted antenna with a Saturn might want to add these.. This cured some pretty strange antenna problems I was having, as it did for others folks I know..
Kyle Yoksh KØKN Olathe, Kansas Amsat# 35249
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participants (3)
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Jim Sanford -
Kyle Yoksh -
Margaret Leber