Once inside, work the blower fan through its speeds, listening for any chirping or clicking noises within. If you hear any, you'll probably need to replace the blower motor cover to make it stop. Also, make sure that the controls for the temperature system are all easy to turn, and that air-flow from the system is adequate- as an internal defect may cause debris to jam up the doors that control the air distribution.
Potential electrical problems with Ion include the sunroof and blinkers. If the sunroof doesn't work, it's likely a blown fuse. Blinkers may act strange if there's anything plugged into the power outlet on some models, though it's a simple wiring glitch that's easy to repair.
Additionally, make sure the engine idles smoothly with no hesitation or fluctuation. A lumpy or awkward idle may be the result of a malfunction in the engine computer that requires it to be reprogrammed. When idling, the tachometer needle should quickly fall to about 750 rpm and stay there.
If considering a used Ion Redline, you'll want to have a close look underneath- inspecting the underside of the transmission for signs of cracking or leakage. Abusive driving could leave expensive drivetrain parts like the axles or gearbox housing in poor shape.
Recall issues mainly dealt with the fuel system and leaks which could result from a defective feed-pipe or premature corrosion of the fuel filter. Since gasoline is involved, an ignition source near a leak could start a fire. That's a safety issue, and the recall was a common one- so be sure to investigate whether the corrective work has been carried out.
You'll also want to try and ask the vehicle's former owner about the ignition switch, and see if it' ever given them a problem starting. An ongoing headache with Saturn ignition switches from pre-Ion days may leave owners endlessly fiddling with the key, only to call a tow-truck because the car can't be started. One owner, having replaced the same part several times, suggests learning how to hot wire the Ion rather than paying a few hundred dollars to replace the switch every time it acts up.
Issues are issues- but as far as an inexpensive American car goes, you could do a lot worse in terms of reliability. Note that except for the un-popular CVT, no serious issues were noted with engines or transmissions. Additionally, generally weak resale values mean that shoppers will be able to find a just-right Ion for their budget.
Carefully inspect the car, check for recall work and make sure all the accessories function properly. If it all checks out, you've got yourself a decent ticket to economical driving with a unique sense of style and character.
photo:General Motors
Potential electrical problems with Ion include the sunroof and blinkers. If the sunroof doesn't work, it's likely a blown fuse. Blinkers may act strange if there's anything plugged into the power outlet on some models, though it's a simple wiring glitch that's easy to repair.
Additionally, make sure the engine idles smoothly with no hesitation or fluctuation. A lumpy or awkward idle may be the result of a malfunction in the engine computer that requires it to be reprogrammed. When idling, the tachometer needle should quickly fall to about 750 rpm and stay there.
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If considering a used Ion Redline, you'll want to have a close look underneath- inspecting the underside of the transmission for signs of cracking or leakage. Abusive driving could leave expensive drivetrain parts like the axles or gearbox housing in poor shape.
Recall issues mainly dealt with the fuel system and leaks which could result from a defective feed-pipe or premature corrosion of the fuel filter. Since gasoline is involved, an ignition source near a leak could start a fire. That's a safety issue, and the recall was a common one- so be sure to investigate whether the corrective work has been carried out.
You'll also want to try and ask the vehicle's former owner about the ignition switch, and see if it' ever given them a problem starting. An ongoing headache with Saturn ignition switches from pre-Ion days may leave owners endlessly fiddling with the key, only to call a tow-truck because the car can't be started. One owner, having replaced the same part several times, suggests learning how to hot wire the Ion rather than paying a few hundred dollars to replace the switch every time it acts up.
Issues are issues- but as far as an inexpensive American car goes, you could do a lot worse in terms of reliability. Note that except for the un-popular CVT, no serious issues were noted with engines or transmissions. Additionally, generally weak resale values mean that shoppers will be able to find a just-right Ion for their budget.
Carefully inspect the car, check for recall work and make sure all the accessories function properly. If it all checks out, you've got yourself a decent ticket to economical driving with a unique sense of style and character.
photo:General Motors
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