Wiring Problems of Saturn LS

The contact owns a 2001 Saturn l200. While parked, the contact noticed that the air conditioner would not activate. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostics where the technician stated that the wiring harness was found to have been melted. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 109,000. . . Updated 09-26-12 updated 10/01/2012.

See all problems of the 2001 Saturn LS 🔎.

I own a 2002 Saturn l 300 6 cylinder 3. 0 engine car. In June 2010 I had a throttle body issue withmy car (reduced power, check engine, service engine lights). I took it to a repair shop and it was diagnosed with a throttle body issue. I purchased the throttle body from gm directly and had it installed at an outside mechanic. Not knowing the electrical issues and computer programming issues around this car, I let the outside mechanic do the installation not know all the computer programming issues around this part. About a month or so later I continued to have issues with the same error messages, but this time I brought it to gm, where they diagnosed a wiring issue. Since then I have had it back to gm 5 more times replacing the entire wiring to the throttle body, the electronic control module, and on may 2, 2011 another trip to have the computer re-programmed to sync the new ecm to the throttle body. This past week I began getting an error message (service engine light) for the throttle position sensor. I called gm directly and opened a complaint case number and brought the car back tot he gm dealer now for the 6th time. The prior visits to gm they have told me they won't honor any guarantees because the original throttle body replacement was done at an outside mechanic shop. I can see that holding weight the first or second visit back to gm, but now this is the 6th visit back and they still have yet to completely fix the electrical issues on my car. I have spent over 3,000. 00 trying to get this right to no avail. And I am somewhat stuck since I cannot afford to buy a new car.

See all problems of the 2002 Saturn LS 🔎.

I replaced the heater control switch, blower motor, and resistor due to the fact that the heater blower would not work. After doing all the above, the heater still did not work. It appears that the wiring harness behind the heater control was the problem. Two of the prongs in the white plug were burnt and did not allow the DC electric current to go into the heater control unit. It is lucky that the fan went out before it had caught fire. There are two children who ride in the car, one 5 years old and one 9 years old. I was surprised that the 40 amp fuse did not blow even though the circuit kept coming on and off. We had already changed the engine 3-4 years ago because the timing chain broke and Saturn would not fix.

I have had to replace the heater control switch two times over the past three years. There appears to be a problem with the wiring harness overheating at the white clip (where it plugs into the heater control unit. If left undetected, it melts the plastic of the switch making it impossible to switch from hi to low. Research on this make and model does not indicate a recall, however, I found an indication that Saturn is aware of this problem and has made repairs to correct the situation. I am concerned this may eventually lead to a fire hazard, if not that then a costly repair. I have replaced the blower motor, blower motor resistor and heater control unit. Could cost nearly $1000. 00 based on estimates through dealership.

The blinker / light handle on the left hand side of the steering wheel, which also controls the bright lights. When I turn the blinker on either turning left or right, the bright lights come on, and causes the blinker electrical wiring to arc and cause a small fire in the steering column area, which emits smoke into the cabin of the vehicle, also an odor of burning wires. At one point there was a small fire in that area, which caused me to have to pull over and blow out manually (do not have a place for a fire extinguisher in the vehicle). Ever since that day, it has done this, arcing and causing the smoke in the cabin. One time only has it flared up with visible flames and it did not destroy the vehicle, nor caused any other damage of any sort. However it still does cause the arcing in the wiring and cause the smoke to fill part of cabin.

Since we bought the car, we have had chronic problems with the hvac system and other minor electrical problems; re-charging the ac the first 3 summers we owned the car, determining the ac did not have enough power going to it to run properly, dash lights going out, automatic doors not working, and the taillights going out intermittently, and difficulties with the wipers working appropriately. The engine light would chronically go on, but the dealer mechanics could find nothing wrong after reading the codes. We requested the dealership please trace the electrical lines to find a short, but said there was none and the problem was "fixed". Then, after 6 years of ongoing problems, and no ac for 2 years, the heater began to remain on for approx. 30 seconds after the car was turned off and the key was no longer in the ignition. A week later the car failed to start. A personal mechanic friend discovered that the blower motor was cross wired and there was a short in the relay from the hvac system to the engine. We have replace the relay and the blower motor. The ac and the heater now work fine. I am frustrated that Saturn refused to deal with this chronic problem appropriately.

See all problems of the 2000 Saturn LS 🔎.

Driving to work when power seat began moving forward on it's own. Then seat switch started smoking a lot. I then pulled over exited vehicle and had someone notify fire dept in west brookfield MA. I then disconnected battery fire dept removed switch and inspected seat to make sure it was not on fire. The switch itself was toasted the wiring to the switch was fine, also the fuse to the seat did blow out. I will contact dealer for replacement switch. I also do have the burnt out switch.

This car has been nothing but trouble. I have had to have the drive shaft replaced, the motor mounts replaced, the tail light assembly replaced, the steering assembly replaced and I too have a problem with the dash lights dimming. The technicians at the local Saturn dealership are nothing but rude. They dont fix the problems you bring the car in for and you end up having to take it back the next day or even sometimes that same evening for a repair that wasnt done properly. I thought this was going to be a good car but it has been constant trouble and is constantly in the repair shop.

I noticed my brake lights and tail lights were not working all the time. . . Upon further inspection it appears that the brake lights do not work when the headlights and/or tail lights are on. There is definitely a wiring problem. . . I have had several electrical problems with this vehicle, which is only 4 years old. . . The door locks and electric windows have been broken, and the intermittent wiper setting does not work properly.

A short circuit of some sort in the the headlight/turn signal switch caused a small electrical fire. While driving, the dashboard indicators showed that the daytime running lights and high beams were turning on and off on their own. When the car was turned off, the daytime running lights remained on. After a few moments, I began to smell the odor of something burning and smoke began to come out of the steering column. The smoke subsided only after I pulled the fuses on the two headlamps. The fuses did not break the circuit on their own -- the headlights did not go out until I pulled the fuses. I then called the Saturn roadside assistance hotline and asked them how to completely turn off the electrical power to the entire car (to prevent anything else from catching fire) but they were of little help. I was looking for a master circuit breaker but they could not tell me whether or not the vehicle has one. They suggested disconnecting the battery at the terminals, but I was wary of doing this for fear that the airbag might deploy.

Uneven wear of tires; (tires replaced under warranty once); tail light shorts (received a ticket) the bulbs have been replaced three times (problem is from faulty wiring. . . Problems with shift moving from p to r & d. Must tap on the brake several times in order for the gear to move.

Electrical system failed without warning, causing the ignition relay to ignite the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle was consumed totally by fire.

Driving home I smelled an electrical burning smell. I then noticed smoke coming from the steering column. With the car off the smoke continued and the high beams were on. I drove to Saturn and they found an internal short in the head lamp switch (p/n 22679804). At no time did any fuse blow to protect the circuit. I have the old part and can see evidence of burnt/melted wires. This is a fire hazard. 2000 Saturn Ls1 VIN [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle will intermittenly start up. Contacted dealer, and dealer noted that a wire was not working properly. Please provide more information.

The brake lights failed to illuminate simultaneously. Dealership had to replace the brake lights constantly. The problem was traced to the electrical system.