BRAND NEW ENGINE First Start Up... The Saturn Sky Was NOT Happy

It's been a year since the LNF engine in Gabe's 2007 Saturn Sky Redline failed. The LDK is the later model replacement for the original LNF engine and the head has to be swapped back to the old LNF style to fit in the Sky Redline. This is a turn key built engine with a new turbo as well and the bill was more than the price of the car. We got it installed in a day but when it came time for the first start we had a one code that wouldn't clear. Even worse the parts weren't in town so the car has to stay in the warehouse for 2 more days. O'Reilly Auto Parts to the rescue, we should have this thing back on the road by Tuesday.
Saturn Sky Redline Alternator:
www.oreillyaut...
MERCH: shopWatchJRGo.com
Shop Motul: motul.com
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Common Questions:
What motorcycle do I ride? A few. Ducati 1198, Honda Goldwing, Honda Grom, Honda Ruckus
What do I do for a living? Make KZbin videos.
Can you wheelie? No, I suck.
Are you fast? Sort of. I suck mostly though.
Where can I keep up with you off the bike?
Instagram: WatchJRGo
Facebook: WatchJRGo (or JRGo, FB hates my branding)
Do you go to school? College, for 2 classes.
Why do you ride so dangerously? What do mean? I was doing 25.
Do you go to the track? Of course, hopefully there will be videos in the future.
Do you play video games? No, but I might stream N64 Goldeneye at some point. Twitch: WatchJRGo
Are you afraid the police will watch your videos and arrest you? Something something evidence something something warrants and due process of law
#SaturnSky #SaturnRedline #BigTurbo

[@RealRickCox]

This wasn't really a complete failure... just a minor setback. And since you discovered it before you put it all back together - it'll be an easy fix.

[@truthseekerdanny]

Been Binge watching your old material brother... Can't believe it's been 3 years since I started watching... My my...how time flies

[@shanetesmer5198]

I’m so glad I have a local place that rebuilds alternators and starters…..usually same day turnaround

[@timprice7945]

I'm glad to see you guys working together again. Nothing like tinkering with a good buddy.

[@viper20999]

Did Gabe really question JR’s commitment to perfection with his response to the top bolts? JR doesn’t do things half-ass, it’s hole-ass or not at all, that is why I enjoy his content so much. Keep up the great work JR and looking forward to the new shop once we get there!

[@timothyballinger6280]

One of the best feelings in the world is a brand new motor install successfully! Awesome 👍

[@asdfghjklOnlyForSpam]

Picked up a manual redline with 80K miles a few months back after owning a base saturn sky. Just out of college, so it's been great getting ahead of recommended repairs and maintenance. Been keeping up with the redline series since you first picked it up. It's been motivating to watch and gives me a bit more confidence as I start throwing in performance parts. Great content as always!

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

Awesome!! I hope you enjoy it to its fullest!!🍻😉👍🏼

[@terrylessmann2274]

The smoke reminds me when I was a little kid of the mosquito fogging car blasting the neighborhood. We'd immediately run out into the fog and jump around. I'm sure I'm fine.

[@John-pk6ep]

😂😂😂

[@pmscalisi]

I’m surprised that the alternator would be so specific. GM never does that.

[@brucebelitz3451]

Maxwell house is good to the last drop, Folgers is the best part of waking up!

[@BigislandEJ]

I can attest to the difficulty of working on that car, I changed the thermostat last month on mine and my hands were hamburger when I was done… great car though, fun as heck to drive!

[@Cartier_specialist]

Wouldn't you know the only engine accessory part you didn't replace would need replaced. But it's basically new now. You might as well install new rotors and pads and not worry about it for another 180,000 miles.

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

The rotors and pads were only a few hundred miles old when it went down. - sigh - if only I could get it painted.

[@Cartier_specialist]

@@Gabe-ABNCW3 So basically a new car just needs paint. But aren't the Saturns all plastic or did they go away from that in the later years?

[@questioner1596]

@@Cartier_specialist, the later Saturns ditched plastic as they were basically rebadged Opels, Pontiacs, etc. Ion or 1st gen Vue may have been the last of the plastic.

[@Brooklyn-bn5go]

I've been watching for a long time, I can't decide if this is a cool automotive channel or a great friends channel!

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

Why not both? 🍻😜👍🏼

[@AnthonyRBlacker]

Driving without an alternator, even in an 'older' car that's not so super reliant on constant 13.6v, just not a good idea at all. It's definitely the right call to wait until Tuesday, get it 100%, then see what gremlins could (hopefully won't) appear.. Great job though!!

[@donreinholz8121]

Now the car needs a wash and detail. Great job guys!

[@questioner1596]

GM electronics suffer on even slightly low voltage.

[@69Dartman]

Watching now but at least it started and tried to run, a little fine tuning and it should be happy along with you and Gabe 👍 Two steps forward and one step back...

[@CarswithNash]

Good work getting it running, that is a minor fix now.

[@emericaman16]

You definitely need to install super duper exhaust fans at the new shop too

[@P.Galore]

Three Days Of Gabe Festival!...AND we have a new Pope!

[@stevehunter5505]

I'm surprised you didn't pull the alternator off and open it up. Assuming the windings are good, the only things that normally fail are the diode/regulator pack or the carbon brushes are worn or maybe stuck in their holders. Very easy to replace either if you're handy with a soldering iron and way cheaper than a replacement alternator.

[@pauljohnson7733]

Great team, keep cracking on.

[@pmkstudios]

amazing effort as usual. looking forward to seeing the hoodless test drive!

[@emericaman16]

I don't want to deal with the jar either 🤣

[@pops55650]

Look at that blu tooth funnel skill

[@douglasbray3563]

Good Evening John Ross, looking forward to details on your new shop without a train track across the street

[@WatchJRGo]

Me too... me too, don't close on it for 30 more days though 😬

[@toolzshed]

Success!!! Great job!!! Just the alternator is remaining 🤘🏽🔥

[@EinsteinSurfer]

Awesome video as always, you guys killed it-- actually brought it back to life LOL. That was a crazy amount of oil smoke at first, glad you have those big fans. Need to install a bigarse fan in my garage. Great job guys, glad to see you and Gabe working on a build again. Wicked cool oil pour also. 😎

[@kevinb158]

That sounds about right it'll be Tuesday well it'll give y'all time to look it over before he gets home But try to tap on the alternator the brushes may be stuck

[@barryashworth3177]

Please start showing more of the work especially the complicated difficult parts

[@kevinschlossser7858]

and yes that line comes off. with a single person and it's easy to do. You sacrifice the line. put a flat head screwdriver between the valve cover and the fitting and twist the screwdriver putting pressure on the fittings. then rotate the fitting back and forth while twisting the screwdriver and the line will come off without damaging the valve over and not having to cut anything.

[@WildChinoise]

I love that redline. hope to see it in a trip video, one of these days!

[@mancaveretrogaming5245]

Do we want to see an engine tear down? Yes, always yes

[@BadBrad23]

On the alternator, I think the internals could be oil contaminated. Try pressure washing it.

[@PaddyBoy644]

Gabe rockin the Edd China gloves from wheeler dealer!

[@clifbradley]

The Saturn Saga continues again....it's the project that never ends. Lol.

[@michaelgrow8630]

Thanks big Gabe

[@AzTurboMini]

Fix it right Tuesday then send it! 👍

[@bonedaddy4670]

New nickname for Gabe…Turbo Gabe! He’s fast but occasionally breaks…

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

🍻🤣👍🏼

[@VanisleNSX]

Good work. Another project almost done!

[@robwilkinson4358]

Great progress. How about throwing a complete detail while you wait for the new alternator? Looking forward to completion.

[@smokey4343]

We have alternator rebuild shops in my area that are usually cheaper than buying a new one..

[@djwilliams4714]

Immediately jumped out of the car not caring about oil pressure! Priceless! Lol

[@rik999]

Check the brushes in the alternator. They could be stuck after sitting so long. Of course they could be worn too short to make good contact with the rotor. Electrical problems: shorted stator or rotor windings are very rare, more common are bad diodes or the regulator board. If the alternator is hard to find and/or monstrously expensive, shop rebuilds are worth while.

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

It didn’t occur to me at the time that we parked it, but the battery died very very quickly afterwards. I just wrote it off as being an old battery but it all makes sense now.

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

It didn’t occur to me at the time that we parked it, but the battery died very very quickly afterwards. I just wrote it off as being an old battery but it all makes sense now.

[@31dknight]

Another great video from JR. Thanks

[@michaeluplandcausa7878]

I'm a big fan, too. Studs 😄

[@aaronjshaw123]

Bro, been watching for a while Now. Just realized that You, Cory, Austin and I used to race back in the day in Rose Hill. You used to have the Jaguar

[@WatchJRGo]

Haha yup, the old XJ6 Sovereign😂

[@aaronjshaw123]

@@WatchJRGo Bro looks like you are doing great now, and man we had some good times. I ended up turboing and lowing my MX6. But it got totaled by a drunk driver. One day I’ll do a Gen 4 catfish Camaro.

[@martykath4427]

Ever fitted the engine with the mounts removed? Then with the engine sitting on the crossmember fit and tighten all the bellhousing bolts "easily" . then lift and fit the mounts. have done it like this a few times especially on manual transmissions.

[@leedobbyn1602]

Wichita doesn’t have a starter shop? I haven’t bought a new alternator or starter in years. Just take em to the shop and get it rebuilt in 15 minutes. 40 50 bucks also sells used battery’s 30 35 bucks. Saves a lot on flip cars.

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

Well… I found one place- but it looked so shady I was fairly certain that, while yes, I’d return with an alternator, I might not return with both kidneys…

[@mmllmmll22]

Well, rare car to be seen on EU roads (as Opel GT). I'm amazed that You found engine for it!

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

Oh I love my Opels! I have a 70 GT on a rotisserie in my garage and my son is currently assembling a 73 Manta. This is the wife’s. 🍻😉👍🏼

[@cppctek]

Heck yeah can’t wait to hear it rip!

[@Danger-Dave]

Do a full tear down of the old 2.0, I'd love to see the condition of the internals and valve train after what... 150k it had on it? To get that breather hose off the valve cover, insert the leading tip of 3 large tie wraps to depress the locking tabs and it should pull right off, the fun part is getting the things perfectly lined up with the tabs. : ) Was this one of the $4199.99 LDK's?

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

We tried everything under the sun and finally resigned ourselves to dismantling! This is the LDK from rpm motor sport. Had a hard time finding this engine!

[@DonVDBorgh]

Maxwell House is good to the last drop, Folgers is: the best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup 😂. Great job on getting it done, just need better supply line for more timely fixes!

[@ThriftMachine]

Take it to the Saturn dealer for an inspection

[@daslaundrynazi]

Good idea. On the way they could stop at Blockbuster to return some video tapes.

[@ThriftMachine]

@@daslaundrynazi yup then hit up K Mart for blue light special items for the car

[@WildDigger]

Tear down the old motor. Glad to see the Sky back up and running.

[@johnnyhawk329]

That was maxwell house that was good to the last drop.

[@lovellmills7959]

Sounds great, congrats!!

[@dmann1209]

Have you considered a alternator rebuild since the unit is difficult to get? I think there is a core charge, but to have a spare may be worth it. Excellent episode , the SKY is an awesome automobile.

[@rager1969]

I heard that you can use the dipstick "as a funnel". By placing the dipstick in the opening in the crank case and pour oil onto it, it will be guided in. I don't know, it seems like you are still aiming into the hole and breaking the stream with the dipstick could cause some splash.

[@jhanschu]

I actually have an alternator that I wasn't able to return for my sky when I misdiagnosed a charging issue. I'm local BTW.

[@charleslaatz6189]

dm him on other socials and email his business email and let him know.

[@jhanschu]

@@charleslaatz6189 thanks. I'll try that.

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

Where were you when I was looking for one yesterday?!?! 🤣😂

[@jhanschu]

@@Gabe-ABNCW3 wish I would have known!

[@Bumblebee4788]

I like the "Grandpa" link.Gabe..got one myself, 92 Sunbird 2.0 OHC , more like the" Father ".....,though 👍

[@m.pav.8397]

I love the videos but I don't understand not using a funnel but hey if it makes you happy.

[@xnadave]

I was wondering why y'all didn't pull the transmission with the engine. Given how tight that engine bay is... the last time I did this, I pulled them as a unit. Before reinstalling, I went ahead and mounted the manifolds, turbo and downpipe, stabbed the transmission and then put the whole thing in. After that, all that remained was wiring harness, radiator hoses and AC. (Hindsight is 20/20 - it took me a few engines to get the procedure down.) I'm excited to see this one back on the road. If you ever have to do any real under-hood work on this thing again, I find it helpful to remove the inner fender / wheel well liner. Standing closer to the engine does wonders for one's back.

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

Oh I wish we had removed those fender covers! Those things are a serious pain and I will definitely be doing that next time!

[@williamwales6619]

if it wasn't for bad luck Gabe wouldn't have any luck. Thanks for vid. 😃Later

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

Well, since you put it that way, I think I prefer no luck! Lol!

[@jo6520]

Foldgers advertised the best part of waking up. Maxwell House advertised good to the last drop

[@kevinschlossser7858]

If you unplug the 4 pin connector the alternator is not going to have any output. the ECM is what tells the alternator to produce output. The ECM also reads the output from the alternator vie that 4 pin connector and that is how it known the alternator is working.

[@aelaan12]

My neighbor across the street has given up on his Sky - he has had such bad luck. I have seen the drive shaft laying under it for over a year now and he finally pushed it in the garage and said he is waiting for parts. The engine does run and overall the car is in decent shape. He said there is something wrong with the gear box and clutch.

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

There is a plethora of information and support for the Kappa platforms! Perhaps introducing him to this channel or “Tim’s garage “ would give him some encouragement. I know how discouraging it can be too have that happen! Please give him our best! Cheers!🍻😉👍🏼

[@WilliamGreenlee]

Hey guys, to answer your question on "how the GM guys" remove that PCV hose. The answer is they don't :) Per GM service manual and dealer parts catalog, the PCV hose must be left attached to the valve cover. And if the valve cover were to be replaced, the PCV hose must also be replaced (new cover does not come with hose). The hose should be disconnected from the turbo during valve cover gasket replacement. Also something I noticed...in the service manual it says: "The PCV hose should NOT be disconnected from the cover as damage to the hose connection will result". Yikes! Anyways, keep the good content comin!

[@OhioBladeandCutlery]

That Bluetooth pour was Jireh

[@jeesmith99]

Gabe is awesome.

[@connerpreston1636]

His name is Gabe lol

[@pops55650]

He could be a Babe though..

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

🍻😜👍🏼

[@jeesmith99]

@@connerpreston1636 freaking autocorrect. 🙄

[@salty6pence672]

Its Looking good. Cheers 🍻

[@EthanDenny]

Definitely the closest I’ve ever been to first haha love the content!

[@danielgaribay00]

28sec new record for me

[@WatchJRGo]

Joining the early squad 🍻

[@xxtravdamanxx]

GHEYLORD

[@mdavid7149]

Because that is exactly how you pour one of those containers. Quite literally that's how you do it without it splashing back and recoiling on you

[@chainsnappersmtb512]

You guys did it wrong and the new engines blown up!! lol 💨

[@billboomhower9242]

give the alt a hammer tap,if it powers up its just the brushes.easy fix. and the most likely.at 150,000 miles

[@lilman5095]

Great video

[@Mattmazz77]

You're supposed to reset all the codes first before you start it and see if they come back.

[@HearsingAround]

i always wanted one of those would be great to put a c20let or z20let into a rwd super light base

[@chuckcarter7431]

Sounds good

[@greathornedowl3644]

Um, I am pretty sure it had a hood when Gabe brought it in. Saturn Sky is a great "shade tree mechanic" or high-school/college kid-project car. So, you built an expensive smoke machine just in time for Halloween?

[@WatchJRGo]

It should be finished Tuesday 💯

[@buckhornimports]

"Ace and Gary finally get the Duocar running again"

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

“Those duke boys are at it again…”

[@EALeathers]

Strap a NOCO to it, "good enuff"

[@Yumscale]

U missed some good photo ops with the fog

[@ThaSouthMU]

Well, I want one now as an old time Saturn SL1 owner…. Scared of having to source parts tho!? How difficult is that?

[@mattlucas1956]

I Bet western chaplin gonna buy this warehouse...

[@LLG47]

Hey John, what's your least favorite car?

[@Broadshore]

Oh my god Saturn!! We get it! You vape. :P Very cool guys! She running again!

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

Nailed it!

[@fukhue8226]

If it still doesn't charge after the Alternator Replacement there is a post about a blown Fuse Link. No power to run the field winding inside the Alternator?

[@vspencer9764]

Morning

[@boriss.861]

John Ross tear down that engine! we need to see an autopsy on it!

[@rpmrallysport7071]

It's always something

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

I find that everything is as it should be, otherwise it would be different! 🍻😉👍🏼

[@rpavlik1]

Oh man that is so dusty... I thought those were so cool in college, I was (am) a huge Saturn fan. While I still think those look pretty sexy, my fandom has refined to mostly just the S series which are the "real" Saturns 😉 Honestly not sure whether I'd rather have one of these, or a C5 that shares some details with my 2002 SL2 😁

[@georgemartin1436]

The Photon Torpedoes will be delivered on Tuesday

[@22_floW]

For something as trivial as an alternator, is a re-manufactured alternator okay to use? It's basically brand new, right? It just means that it's had parts replaced that needed to be replaced, right? (Aka, "basically new.")

[@teekay_1]

My experience with third party electrical parts has been uniformly bad. Not sure who the OEM was for GM, but that's where you'd like to get a replacement.

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

It’s AC Delco. And the parts are twice as expensive! I’m usually all for getting it exactly correct, but in this case, I’m willing to fudge just a little and buy an OEM reman.

[@teekay_1]

@@Gabe-ABNCW3 On some cars, replacing the alternator is a 3-4 hours job (looking at you Honda), so good luck!

[@Gabe-ABNCW3]

@@teekay_1 thank goodness it’s not like that on this one!!!

[@windronner1]

Yeah. Break down old engine in timed video to see what’s going on

[@watchjaredwork1487]

Hey!

[@trackerofbadboys]

you are a wonderful mechanic, but i'm surprised you didn't just buy an alternator rebuild kit and rebuild that alternator?

[@MassiveTrackHunter]

I can tell you the saab version of that drivetrain does not like anything less than 11.3volts. Starts throwing lots of codes.

[@curiousumscientia3648]

Hi JR

[@Akilois1001gs]

I really think you should buy a D2 Audi S8 for your collection