Occasional engine lights

Ok, I just got a 98 Saturn SC1 and I think its a good car. I bought it from my sister and it only had 39,000 miles on it. This hasnt happened until recently but I noticed that if I drive sometimes the lights above the engine temperature gauge come on. The temperature light and another light that im not sure of (it looks like a small box with an arrow pointing down into what looks like water) turn on, then blink for a little bit, but then they turn off. I wanted to know what exactly that little box next to the temperature light means. Also when the temperature light blinks, the temperature gauge is no where near over heating, could someone help me out? Oh yeah I was also wondering if you think that saturns are worth making fast and looking nice, because thats what I have in mind for this car. Thanks

well that light is the coolant/overheating light. If its flashing then that means the coolant level is low, check that first. If that is fine and the car is not overheating then it could be the cooling temp sensor being faulty. Mine hasn't stopped flashing since I basically got my car; i think i have the bad one made of nylon. there is a post somewhere saying saturn had a nylon sensor which didn't work for shit and a brass that worked much better.

Oh and saturns, at least i think, are worth making fast. The stock headers are very restrictive so replacing those with some good racing ones will really open her up. Other exhaust mods won't hurt either. spswebpage.com has a lot of things for saturns. they cost a lot though and i dunno if they are worth getting. I plan on getting a new throttle body from them in the spring and a sway bar within a month or two. I haven't seen many things to "make it look nice", though everyone had a different idea of what "make it look nice" means to them.

how can i change the head of the clutch to another cooler looking one?

it could be the cooling temp sensor being faulty. Mine hasn't stopped flashing since I basically got my car; i think i have the bad one made of nylon. there is a post somewhere saying saturn had a nylon sensor which didn't work for shit and a brass that worked much better.

exactly what he said

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=24003

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=37884

sickcallaway - why haven't you fixed yours yet?

This is a question I have also: how do you change the shift knob? Mine doesn't unscrew, of that I am sure, but I can't find any other way to get it off, either. I think it might just be screwed on, but glued to the shifter with Lock-Tight or something.

I've been too lazy to go searching for a new sensor and it hasn't caused any problems for my car so it still flashes. I'll probably get one along with a new muffler, valve cover gasket and spark plugs (might as well). Anyone know what spark plugs work and don't work with the factory saturn spark plug wiring?
I used an allen wrench to get my shift knob off when installing a momo one. If there aren't any black screws in the 3 holes then someone didn't want it to come off.

This is a question I have also: how do you change the shift knob? Mine doesn't unscrew, of that I am sure, but I can't find any other way to get it off, either. I think it might just be screwed on, but glued to the shifter with Lock-Tight or something.

get in the back seat and pull up really really REALLY hard. no screwing or anything, just straght up.

Don't feel bad I've got the flashies and I've never gotten around to replacing the sensor either. Here's the redneck way: slap some duct tape over it so you don't see the lights (no I haven't done that).

I've changed my shift knob myself its not that hard except for the fact that you need a razor knife or simply a pocket knife like i used.... cut the rubber piece off the top and you'll find a pin near the back of whats left on the shift knob take the pin out and there you go slides right off

Flashing coolant symbol with an arrow that goes into the water means the coolant level is low in the overflow tank (which is the only place to fill it on my Saturn), the reason it goes on and off could be two reasons. 1. The float sensor is bad (not the temperature sensor, just the float sensor for the fluid level). or 2. When you accelerate or brake, the fluid is rushing away or towards the sensor, and since the fluid level is "right on the line", it causes the light to go on and off. I woudl check the fluid level...in my Saturn, even when the coolant appears at an ok level, it's really not...when i pour more in, it forces the coolant down through the radiator and forces the air bubbles out...I'd just fill it til it starts to overflow, if there is extra, it'll find it's way out at some point.

OK, so where is the float sensor and how do you replace it? that is what I personally originally figured was wrong on my car, but I didn't know what sensor actually sensed the coolant level or where it would be at. Even the Haynes manual only mentions two sensors, one to send temp info to the gauge and one to send temp info to the computer (if I remember right) anyway neither of those had anything to do with the level of coolant.

those two are the ECTs, one wire sensor for the gauge, two wire sensor for the PCM. the float sensor is in the coolent resiavor. if the light is blinking, replace the ECT, if the light is steady, check the coolent level.

i recommend replacing the ECT for anyone with a 91-00 s-seires who have not already upgraded to the brass tipped ECT

I typed out a whole response for you last night and when I went to post...no server...damn computers. Anyway, my Chilton's manual says almost the same thing as the Hayne's does, except for one thing, cars '96 and up didn't have two sensors, they only had one. In the old car, one sensor went to the computer, the other went to the gauge. The newer cars only have one two wire sensor, which goes to the PCM, which controls the gauge by itself. If the temperature light only is blinking, look at the sensor but the problem you describe, i'd check the coolant level and then replace the float sensor. I haven't gotten a chance this morning to look under my own hood (97 SL-1 SOHC), but the float sensor should be pretty easy to differ from the ETC sensor and here's how. The float sensor is located in the coolant overflow resevoir (simpler than you thought huh?). Don't worry, it's pretty hard to confuse it for the ECT for the float because the ECT is located in the back of the cylinder head. Luckily, when these warning lights were blinking in my car, just ended up being coolant to shut em off.

Don't worry, it's pretty hard to confuse it for the ECT for the float because the ECT is located in the back of the cylinder head.

Ha ha yeah i kind of figured that! :iceslolan
anyway i guess i should get off my lazy butt and replace the dang things. maybe after i beat the latest Ratchet and Clank . . . :rolleyes: