My car (99' Saturn SL2, automatic, 120,000 miles...) is having some weird electrical(?) problems. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's the symptoms:

• Car has been running rough, especially when idling at a stop and the dashboard lights and clock flicker while idling. Been doing this for some time, maybe a few months.

• No problems besides the flickering until... four times in the last two weeks while driving, the car bucked, all the lights and the radio went out, all the dials went back to zero, then within maybe a second everything came back on and the car was acting like nothing had ever happened. Like a total loss of power for a quick second.

•No problems starting the car... until this morning. I had drove a short distance to get some breakfast. When I got back in to start the car, I put the key in and heard the seatbelt chime like normal but as soon as I turned the key nothing happened. Then I noticed the clock was off, the overhead light didn't come on when I opened the door. So i thought it must be the battery. There was a Kragen across the street so I was going to take it out and get it tested (but had to wait for my dad to get there with the tools). I got back in my car and to my surprise the clock was on and it seemed that the power was back. I tried starting the car and it worked so I drove it home.

What might this be? I'm going to test the battery and alternator, I've also heard it could be bad gas or bad fuel pump. Any ideas?
Thanks!!!

I may have a similar problem on my 97 SL2 Last week while make a quick turn to the right the engine quit. I had to use the key to restart and all was well unit yesterday. I was in a high speed on ramp that turns to the right again and the engine once again quit. Same thing restarted with the key and started fine since. I am inclined to think that I have a bad electrical connection in the ignition circuit possibly the ignition switch. The battery being less than a month old is not a likely suspect. I would if I were looking for your problem check out the electrical system as it pertains especially the ignition switch.

I am experiencing the same exact symptoms with my 92 SL2. Rough idle, flickering lights, randomly won't start (all electrical goes dead...then magically starts). I've noticed a particular problem with it not starting when I park on an incline. I replaced the battery...it seemed to help with the starting problem, but I am still getting the rough idle, lights flicker (including headlights). And the other night I noticed that my temperature guage was creeping up towards the red zone. Please let me know if anyone diagnoses this problem. It definitely seems electrical...possibly alternator? I've had mine replaced on this saturn about 4 times over the life of the car.

I too have just started having this problem. A few days ago I barely noticed the gauges die while driving, but so briefly that the engine didn't hiccup.

The entire car electrical system cut out this morning. I noticed that the clock would turn on sometimes when I opened & slammed the door shut. I would slam the door then the clock would come on, then quickly die. I would hear a click in the right rear area just before the power failure. I looked around in the trunk area under the padding, but didn't see a relay. Then I got back in the car and the power stayed on. I started it up and drove cautiously to work. I've heard of a similar problem in Hondas with a relay that cuts power when the vehicle rolls over. Is there a similar thing in the Saturn?

Well, it turns out that the battery cables were clean but loose on the posts. I snugged them down with a wrench, and things have been okay since then. Of course, with intermittent problems, things may get worse again.

My car (99' Saturn SL2, automatic, 120,000 miles...) is having some weird electrical(?) problems. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's the symptoms:

• Car has been running rough, especially when idling at a stop and the dashboard lights and clock flicker while idling. Been doing this for some time, maybe a few months.

• No problems besides the flickering until... four times in the last two weeks while driving, the car bucked, all the lights and the radio went out, all the dials went back to zero, then within maybe a second everything came back on and the car was acting like nothing had ever happened. Like a total loss of power for a quick second.

•No problems starting the car... until this morning. I had drove a short distance to get some breakfast. When I got back in to start the car, I put the key in and heard the seatbelt chime like normal but as soon as I turned the key nothing happened. Then I noticed the clock was off, the overhead light didn't come on when I opened the door. So i thought it must be the battery. There was a Kragen across the street so I was going to take it out and get it tested (but had to wait for my dad to get there with the tools). I got back in my car and to my surprise the clock was on and it seemed that the power was back. I tried starting the car and it worked so I drove it home.

What might this be? I'm going to test the battery and alternator, I've also heard it could be bad gas or bad fuel pump. Any ideas?
Thanks!!!


Yup same story here, I have a 95 SL2 w/180k. Took it to my mechanic who said the engine is gone. We thought is was the altenator at first.

My car (99' Saturn SL2, automatic, 120,000 miles...) is having some weird electrical(?) problems. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's the symptoms:

• Car has been running rough, especially when idling at a stop and the dashboard lights and clock flicker while idling. Been doing this for some time, maybe a few months.

• No problems besides the flickering until... four times in the last two weeks while driving, the car bucked, all the lights and the radio went out, all the dials went back to zero, then within maybe a second everything came back on and the car was acting like nothing had ever happened. Like a total loss of power for a quick second.

•No problems starting the car... until this morning. I had drove a short distance to get some breakfast. When I got back in to start the car, I put the key in and heard the seatbelt chime like normal but as soon as I turned the key nothing happened. Then I noticed the clock was off, the overhead light didn't come on when I opened the door. So i thought it must be the battery. There was a Kragen across the street so I was going to take it out and get it tested (but had to wait for my dad to get there with the tools). I got back in my car and to my surprise the clock was on and it seemed that the power was back. I tried starting the car and it worked so I drove it home.

What might this be? I'm going to test the battery and alternator, I've also heard it could be bad gas or bad fuel pump. Any ideas?
Thanks!!!


I bought my son a 1999 SL2 (100,000 miles) this past summer. Everything was fine until about 2 months ago,then it started acting up.
I got in it one morning and it would not start. I noticed that the dome light,clock,radio,and door chime was not working, but the daylight running lights and dashlights were. I thought that maybe there was a blown fuse so I checked the fuse box under the hood. The fuses were okay there,then I checked the the fuse block inside next to the console on the passenger side. As soon as I pushed on the fuse block everything started to work fine...door chime,dome light, radio, clock,tried the key and it started up fine.


Well, now it has been doing this off and on, and it also has been doing this while you are driving it. Losses power, dies, radio, clock, dome light they quit working or come and go. Got so we left the access door off the fuse block so we could push on it to get everything working again.

Finally we got tired of this and took it to the garage to get it looked at.
They took the fuse block out and found out that it had a bad wire going into the fuse block. They repaired it, but told me that the fuse block had gotten hot on the backside and they could not guarantee the fix.
Said if it started to do this again to bring it back and they would have to replace the fuse block. Guess what? It has not been a week,and the problem is back. Called them up this morning to see when I could bring it back in. They called me back and told me that they would have to order the fuse block from Saturn. Price of the new fuse block will be $209, not including labor.

I'm new to this forum. I noticed a bunch of posts inquiring about similar problems but don't see any answers posted. Didn't anyone offer any suggestions, or am I not looking in the right place for the responces to the questions? I have a '97 sl2 that runs and starts great most of the time, but about 4 times in the last month has acted like the battery's dead when I try to start it, except there is good power to everything BUT the ignition; lights, power windows, etc. I'm wondering it it might be a problem with the switch that requires the transmission to be in park to start, or something like that. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

john

My car (99' Saturn SL2, automatic, 120,000 miles...) is having some weird electrical(?) problems. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's the symptoms:

? Car has been running rough, especially when idling at a stop and the dashboard lights and clock flicker while idling. Been doing this for some time, maybe a few months.

? No problems besides the flickering until... four times in the last two weeks while driving, the car bucked, all the lights and the radio went out, all the dials went back to zero, then within maybe a second everything came back on and the car was acting like nothing had ever happened. Like a total loss of power for a quick second.

?No problems starting the car... until this morning. I had drove a short distance to get some breakfast. When I got back in to start the car, I put the key in and heard the seatbelt chime like normal but as soon as I turned the key nothing happened. Then I noticed the clock was off, the overhead light didn't come on when I opened the door. So i thought it must be the battery. There was a Kragen across the street so I was going to take it out and get it tested (but had to wait for my dad to get there with the tools). I got back in my car and to my surprise the clock was on and it seemed that the power was back. I tried starting the car and it worked so I drove it home.

What might this be? I'm going to test the battery and alternator, I've also heard it could be bad gas or bad fuel pump. Any ideas?
Thanks!!!

Check the F5 terminal at the instrument panel fuse block.........

I too have been experiencing the same type of problems with my '97. Dash lights flickering, dash dropping out and immediately coming back, engine dying and immediately coming back, and no power at start-up but opening and shutting the door would magically bring power back.

After reading all the solutions, i thought i'd start at the easiest and work my way along.

My side-mounted battery connections seemed tight and clean, but i removed them, cleaned both sides with a wire battery post cleaner and re-connected while jiggling the wires some to ensure a tight, even fit.

This seems to have taken care of the problem! No more flickering dash and no more power cuts... so far. Whooda thunk?

If the problem re-occurs, i'll re-post and let you know my next step.

Thanks to all who posted. Solutions and problems both. I found this site by following search links that matched the problem i was experiencing.

Well, the tightening of the terminals was obviously a temporary fix.

My wife went out to start the car the other morning and it was dead. Up till that time, everything was working fine - no problems at all.

Jumpered the car and it started fine, but as soon as i tried anything that put a load on (A/C, Lights, etc.) the car died. Turns out the battery had a dead cell.

I don't have a good feeling about this. The battery was about a year and a half old. I'm thinking something caused the battery go and die before it's time. Alternator? Regulator?

I'm hoping it's not the alternator, they really hide the puppy in these cars.

I'll keep you posted if anything else happens.


Update: It's been more than a month now and no further problems. Must have just been the battery going bad. HOO-rah.

Mine did this when the alternator was failing.
Any of you take the car to a parts store to have it checked?
They are not terrible to get at. I think I took off the wheel and could get at it better if I remember, was a while ago.

Someone explain this one to me...
Finally found out that the wipers have a three stage switch! Cool, now I can set it fast for a steady rain, and slow for the morning fog, BUT>>>>

Recently the wipers have come on all by themselves! They haven't been turned on for a few days, and then out of nowhere, one or two swipes! It is kinda freaky! Of about 12 occurances, there has been no constant variables. I figured a short in the steering column when I went around a corner, then it happened driving straight down the interstate. Thought the switch was loose, but didn't notice anything when I investigated. It swiped once when I turned the radio on, but never happened like that again.

Is my car haunted? or is there a rational explanation? If it isn't a serious problem, I will leave it as is, it is funny to see the passengers faces when it happens and I mention that the car is "haunted"!

lets say its haunted....i know its not but its easier to say that then to find the problem.

something is loose somewhere. is that vague enough? i really can't tell you more unless i rip it apart and look for my self.

but... does it happen only when you hit a bump?

no, no bumps. That is what I thought of too, at first. but it mostly happens when I am driving to work, or from. Same 15 miles of interstate and city roads. Never has it happened twice in the same location!

Not that I am trying to fix it, but could it cause the alternator prob's I am having? i.e.,You anwered my question about testing an alternator in another post.

Thanks for the info!

Not that I am trying to fix it, but could it cause the alternator prob's I am having? i.e.,You anwered my question about testing an alternator in another post.

i doubt it, the two circuits arn't anywhere near each other. you may want to double check all the fuses, if you haven't already. i can't think of any quick fixes to this one. sorry. it might be interesting to see if it still happens if you pull the washer fuse...

My 98 SL wipers did the same thing. It is the wiper motor control module, unfortunately it is all under the windshield cowl vent. Took several hours to get my hands in there to get it out. The motor itself was fine, but one of the small relays in the control module was fried and would short itself out. I bought a used unit from the wrecking yard and had it fixed in a few hours. I still have the old motor and am trying to figure out what to do with it now!! It works great. I have the module somewhere in a shop. I had a friend take it to an electronics shop to be repaired, but he has been to busy.

We had to replace the alternator twice in our 94 sl1. When the alternator starts to fail anything and everything can work wrong. This last time we thought it was the trans failing. The trans was running wrong - due to bad electric. It was the alternator, but that doesnt mean it didnt hurt the trans. Trans shop told us as the alternator brushes wear down everything is affected. For a long time (more than a year!) I noticed the dash air vents had a very weak airflow. Thought it was blockage. A new alternator and battery and the vent airflow is twice as powerful. Someone on this forum said the alternator is the achille's heel of the saturn. One mechanic told me it's a bear putting alternators on saturn; he said some guys refuse to do it, and some shops charge double. We paid thru the nose. This time I got the battery with the shorter warranty - why bother when I will probably be replacing it anyway. There is something in saturn design that tears up alternators and sink batteries

the design flaw of the alternator is it is mount above the exhaust system, quite hot back there. and the power steering doesn't give you alot of room to replace it.

Saturns are notorious for having alternator problems. The main reason is that they are located near the bottom, back side of the engine. It’s close to the exhaust, but more importantly there’s not enough air flow to keep them cool. I’ve had two SL2s and replaced alternators in both of them. Neither one failed immediately, it was a slow and gradual process. Like some of your comments, the first time I thought I was having transmission problems or other issues. The reason is that the alternator is only putting out partial power, and finally falls below the critical voltage for the powertrain control module. It locks itself in an emergency diagnostic mode, shifts hard and lurches. Keeping higher revs ups the voltage slightly, but eventually it affects the engine computer and associated electronics. Some inexperienced dealers or owners temporarily solve the problem by installing a new battery. It works for a while, because the alternator still puts out some voltage and the new battery compensates at lower revs or idle. But only for a few weeks…

I have had much better luck with factory alternators directly from the dealership. The aftermarket can’t seem to get it quite right. I also installed a voltage gauge so I can keep an eye on things. That and keep your terminals tight and free of corrosion (coat them with a small amount of grease, inside and out).

Ok, there’s my advice. Now for my problem, I’m hoping someone has run into the same. I have a ’95 SL2 with 160,000 mi and I’m looking for the location of the left side body ground splice pack. I think I may have a loose or corroded ground. Symptoms: dome light (and ignition, headlight chime) does not work with driver’s door, but does with all passengers. The rear defrost only works if you hold the switch down. The radio went out, and the outside electric door lock switch (in the driver’s door key) is inop. All happened at exactly the same time. Here’s the strange part: they ALL come back to life if you unlock the power locks and hold the switch down. But I can’t drive around all day holding the lock switch.

Hayne’s manual generic wiring diagrams haven’t helped much. Has anyone had this problem or know how to fix it?

grounds - http://www.saturnfans.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/17765/

but first, check all your fuses, start with the CHIME fuse