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Saturn S-Series Electrical/Lighting

Just recently, my Brake light started coming on, on my dashboard for several seconds or more then going back out. I checked the fluid and it was fine. The next time the brake light came on, I noticed that the needles for Both my Speedometer and RPM gages dropped to zero for as long as the Brake light was inlluminated. Once the brake light went off, the needles once again showed my speed and RPM (were functional). This occurs while I'm simply driving down the road. What could be wrong and how do I fix it? Thanks.


  • Well here it goes. I have a 1999 sl1 and up to now it has been a good car for my family. But now it loses power to the dash and the rpm and fuel gauges go down then back up for just about a 3 sec glitch. I though might be battery but replaced still have problem I though maybe speed sensor but then i thought if they are bad they are bad all the time right ?
    well if you got a clue to my car sl1 problems of power lose to gauges and fuel indicator going down and then back up and the rpm and speed gauges doing the same.but sometimes total power lose to everything. All power out to engine, lights complete power failure any commits please.????? :sick:
  • I'm experiencing the same issue with my 1999 saturn sw2 wagon. has there been any other resolution to this issue?
    I did notice when it happened that it was cold out side. This is not the first time it has happen to me.
  • Hi, I've discovered through much searching that the alternators in these go bad and cause all kinds of wierd electrical problems. These alternators don't quit like a normal alternator does when it goes bad, they give a much weaker output, so all the electrical systems are struggling to keep up.
    First: The brake light is probably coming on because your emergency brake handle isn't all the way seated.
    Second: the brake light when it comes on is probably sapping enough power from the dash display module to drop your computerized stuff all to zero, Because of the low output from the alternator. Put a new alternator into it.
  • amonkeyamonkey Posts: 2
    Does this sound familiar to anyone... door locks clicking like the car is haunted. The battery dying for no apparent reason. Squeal coming from engine area, even after fluid and belts have been replaced. Alternator and Battery replacement. I gave my '96 Saturn to my daughter three years ago, and for the past two years it has been one electronic issue after another. Any ideas for a way to exorcize this vehicle?
  • cmelaucmelau Posts: 1
    i have a 97 and it did the same thing, i disconnected the lock on the drivers side and it went away, now i have a different problem, just so you know, i am a mechanic, now my fuel pump is shutting down, i replaced it and it still does it, i went to the relay. It wasnt there just a jumper wire, put drl relay in its place and it still happens, im stumped.
  • I'd like to inspect the air recirculation door, motor and linkage to determine why it seems to make no difference whether I put recirc ON or OFF...both choices produce lots of outside ram air rushing into the car, bringing in lots of pollution and pollen that drives my allergies crazy.

    But my Haynes manual makes no mention of where these are located, nor how to get to them without unnecessarily tearing the whole dash and subcomponents apart.

    Does anyone know how I can get to these items to check them for proper functioning and adjustment? If so please post ASAP - thanks!
  • Hi, i have a 1996 Saturn SL2 with 124k on it and for the past 10k miles the Low Coolant High Trans Temp Light, has been on, i've replaced the trans temp sensor and the coolant overflow tank, all to no luck, if you have any ideas or suggestions i'm open to them. This light is bugging me because its the only light on in my dash cluster.

  • satidlesatidle Posts: 5
    Thought I had a "new" issue with my SL1, maybe not. First, my rear window defroster stopped working. I replaced both fuses and switch module, still does not work. Mechanic suspects a short somewhere, somewhere too expensive to track down! Shortly after this waste of time and money, the Emergency/Parking Brake indicator started coming on intermittently. Once I used the regular brakes a few times, it would go off. Then it came on and stayed on ever since (over a month now). I must have checked the Emer brake handle 16 times now, it is definitely down/off all the way. I don't drive this car much, so it doesn't worry me too much. But that damn light is annoying! Does this sound like these other alternator related problems?
  • purplecarpurplecar Posts: 1
    I recently bought a 1996 Saturn SL1, and have been driving it for about 500 miles now out of nowhere my windsheild wipers come on by themselves. I played with the switch but found it to be in the correct position ( OFF ). Has anybody else had this problem. For something positive I checked my gas mileage 38 mpg.
  • Same thing here (as the post at the top, with the speedometer and tach guage problems)! It's equal parts frustrating and encouraging to know I'm not the only one. The symptoms you described fit my problem to a "T". I drive a 1999 Saturn SW2, and have had this problem for about two years, very intermittently. Replaced the battery first because it was relatively inexpensive and easy. Seemed to work for about 6 months, then the unexplained phenomena starting popping up again. Mostly the goofy gauge stuff on the speedometer and tach. Finally replaced the alternator on a gut feeling and, again, seemed to fix the problem for another 3 months or so. Now it's back again, and I'm out of ideas. Any advice anyone?
  • cw_meekscw_meeks Posts: 4
    MOdern cars are very voltage sensitive.Check the voltage at the battery terminals with engine off ,then at high idle speed.AS far as I know there should be about 14.3 volts dc there at a speed just above idle.Wait, now do one more thing.Switch your digital voltmeter to ac mode and get a reading on the presence of any ac voltages.any ac voltage present should have very low voltage. those ac volts should only be a few tens of milivolts. check for loose connections to the alternator.check for corrosion inside electrical connections under the hood and around the engineand clean if req'd/ thank you
  • Hello, I have two power windows which intermittently get stuck . One is the driver's side, the other is the sunroof. They eventually go back into place after starting the car later on. I have tried everything short of replacing the switches for each window. I have cleaned the contacts and it seems like the contacts need to be replaced. Has anyone had similar problems and if so, was it indeed the switches? I know this would be a very costly repair and I"m not even certain it would fix the problems, because in order to access the switch for the driver's side, the middle console needs to removed to gain access to the area where the power controls are, a labor task, then to actually remove the switching mechanism and pay for the part of the new switch and then re-assembling everything. Has anyone been through this and know realistically close to what this might cost? If this even fixes the problem? The sunroof opens just so far, and then stops, and it retracts depending on how the button is pressed and how hard. This is what makes me think that's a contacts issue. But with the power window, it doesn't seem to matter how I lift the switch, it just does what it wants. One interesting caveat to the driver's side window issue is that if I'm trying to lower the window and it doesn't respond, after I shut the car off and before I get out, I open the door and then slam it shut, and voila! the window goes down....figure that one out! As far as the power sunroof, it only opens just so much, but then I have to "play" with it while another person sitting inside presses the button for it to close, then it closes from the little that it opened, but no matter what, I suddenly can't get it to open all the way again. I never had a problem with it before, It was always smooth in opening and this!!
  • I could not find an L series group but suspect that most of the electrical systems in Saturns are close to the same.
    My problem is that when I first start the car in the am after an all night rest, the signals may or may not work, about a half hour later they will always start working.
    I also have a problem with the headlights (auto day/night system) in that if the headlights are on when first starting in the am, I park the car at school and the headlights will not go off. It is daylight when I reach my destination, but have to use a flashlight to shine on the dash sensor to get the lights to turn off. Bad sensor maybe?
    Any info would be appreciated.
    Thanks St.West
  • My passenger side window works just fine in my 2002 SC2 Saturn. The window on the driver side goes down with out a problem , you can even stop it half way down. You just hope the best when it comes to getting the window up. Right now, it is down all way and refuses to raise. There has never been a pattern as to when it will go down and come back up and the same trick never worked 2 times in a row when it came to raising it. Has anyone else had this problem? Is this a problem that can be fixed in the driveway, or does it need to go in to the shop? Any suggestions would be appreciated !
  • I have a 1999 SW2 with the same problem on the rear passenger window. I've figured out a relatively simple and (so far) trustworthy fix. The window always goes down as far as it should, with no problems. Most of the time, though, if I only put it down part of the way it doesn't go back up again. In these cases, I have to stand with that door open, and pull it up manually with two hands--one on the inside, one on the outside. As long as I always roll the window ALL THE WAY UP AT ONCE or ALL THE WAY DOWN AT ONCE, there are no problems. Give it a try.
  • I finally figured out the problem (two batteries and an alternator later). I have a 99 SW2 with the same issues--see my post further down. It was the Vehicle Speed Senser. I picked one up at my Napa shop for a few bucks and had it in the car after about 30 minutes of monkeying (it's not the easiest to reach). Problem solved for good. That was several months ago and not the slightest hint of trouble since. The bad news is the money and time I spent replacing the other things. Oh well; it's a happy ending.
  • skausskaus Posts: 11
    Hi All
    Yesterday I was 95 miles from home and I had a transmission leak from the filter.
    I lost 3 qts of oil. I replaced the filter and put 3 qts back . The reason I looked under the hood was 2 fold. I kept stalling at my destination and the ABS light was on. The engine would stall only if I applied the brake pedal.

    Six hrs later in panic mode ,having to drive 85 miles back home I found 1 solution.
    Remove fuse from brake and I made it home. If I but the fuse back in and press the brake pedal the engine will die .

    Okay my transmission was soaked with oil. I cleaned off all oil. I checked the wiring harness and it was clean .

    **In front of transmission are 2 sensors or switches.
    If I look at wiring diagram it shows Brake transmission safety interlock ,Brake sense switch and stop light switch all in series. Could one of these be my problem?
    Another thing when I step on brake pedal the dash board left and right signals light up dimly .
    Today I put the brake fuse back in and everything is okay.
    I do not trust this car at the moment. Anyone have a clue

    Please let me know what you think. Thanks
  • I have a 96 saturn SL2. Both the dash light and the rear lights keep blowing a fuse They both stay on for about 2-3 minutes and then blow again. Also the chime no longer works when the door is open with the lights on. Any ideas?
  • quick3quick3 Posts: 1
    I have a 1993 SL2 with 120k on it. The fan won't come on? It's not the relay and not the fan itself? I am lost...could it be the the computer? I put a whlole new top end on this car.. If I want to drive it I would have to hard wire the fan...

    Any help or suggestions would be great ..

    Phoenix, Az.
  • I have had my Saturn for a year and a half now and many electrical problems have arose and i wonder if they are related/are caused by the same thing

    here they are:
    -my rear window defroster never worked (bought it in the summer so i didnt notice)
    -my gas gauge stopped working, then my car wouldnt start...fuel sensor was broken according to the dealer, and was fixed for about $700 :(
    -all my dash lights went out
    -my driver side window stopped working...the dealer said it was both the switch and the motor (not sensible to me) but i havent had it fixed yet

    is there maybe some overall electrical issue with my car causing all of these individual problems? i really dont want to keep spending hundreds and hundreds to fix them but not actually find the source of the problems
  • 442dude442dude Posts: 373
    Does the fan come on when you turn the AC on???

    Here's a guess based upon not being there...have you ever replaced your engine coolant temp sensor (ECTS) If the car doesn't know its hot the fan won't come on. Also, the S-series fans come on when the temp needle is just about to enter the red zone, higher than most....
  • robstuffrobstuff Posts: 5
    My power door locks open and close very intermittently whether or not the key is in the ignition. I have tried replacing the relays but the problem continues. The only way to stop the locks is to remove one relay and break the circuit. Could it be the computer? Any suggestions? Thanks
  • i need help my saturn cranks and runs great for about 2 miles then it shuts itself off. we have put new spark plug, wires, new fuel filter, fuel pump and valve cover gaskets
    coil packs and intake modual valve. none of this has helped. does any one have a clue? also the engine fan will not come on
  • starrycj1starrycj1 Posts: 1
    I drive a 2000 SL1 with about 150,000 miles. I have a 2 week history of weird events, and I'd like to go to the mechanic a little better informed.

    Event 1- I start the car and start to back out of the parking lot. All of my indicator lights stay on and I have zero gas and zero speed. (though I have gas in the tank and am moving.) I turn the car off and the engine cranks but won't turn over. So, I disconnected the battery waited 1 minute, reconnected, and it started fine and everything worked.

    2- Later, I was driving and my fuel indicator rapidly fell to 0, I lost speed indicator and my indicator lights went on (after driving a while this time). I pulled over, turned off the car and restarted. Everything was fine.

    3- Again, I pulled out of a parking lot and lost power steering. I rolled out of the way, and after a few tries with just cranking, the car started and everything was fine.

    4- Last night, I left work and it wouldn't crank at all. My clock was even blank. But the radio would work when I turned it to the fan/ radio on position. I disconnected the battery, 1 minute, reconnect, and it started fine. Started fine this morning too.

    I'm suspicious about the recent hot weather here having a part in this, but it wasn't hot every time. Probably not the battery because most of the time it works.

    Any ideas? How much is this going to cost me?
  • nshorenshore Posts: 1
    I drive a 2002 Saturn SL and have had various problems (steering column, ignition switch issues), which had to be fixed at the dealership. Now, my instrument panel is basically dead. I have no readings for my gas gauge, odometer, speedometer, rpm, or any sensor readings. My turn signals, emergency lights, and inside and outside lights work properly. My clock, cd player, and air work as well.
    I've troubleshooted some and have determined that it's not an alternator or fuse problem. None of the relays are specific to that area either. I believe I either have a short at one or more of the wires at my instrument panel or it's a computer chip problem. The problem does seem too specific to be a computer chip problem (no fuel injection, or any other problems.)
    The problem is finding a schematic or wiring diagram for this area. I don't want to remove the dash and pull or adjust the wrong wire (air bag) and cause some serious problems.
  • it was the crank shaft positioning sensor. thanl you fior your help
  • i have the samething going on what did you find out
  • i have a 2002 saturn s series the head lights will not go off ,i turn off the car and the lights stay on : :mad:
  • i have a 95 sl-2 fan was working fine, one day it just quit. check fuse, it;s fine.
    any ideas??.. first time here. bye the has 178,000 on it and runs
    like a top. from what i've been reading, i'm very lucky.

    thanks keith

    great form...
  • my daughters 96 sc2 is having same problems. wipers intermittently turn on. Come on at starting of car, won't go off. Did you ever find a fix?
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