Dash Wiring Problems of Saturn SL

Ignition switch failed to start car. After a few tries, the car finally started only to have mounds of smoke rolling out from under the dash. After turning the vehicle off, the switch worked intermittently. We removed dash covers and ignition cylinder lock, and lowered the steering wheel to find that the wiring harness leading to the ignition switch had what was a black wire that was melted bare for a couple inches, and disfigured the entire wire, and melted the insulation to other wires within the harness. Judging by the damage of done to the wire, it appears that the most heat was in an area where the wire was closest to the steering column, leading one to believe that it wore through and grounded itself to the steering column, which led to the overheating of the wire and subsequent smoke/fire.

See all problems of the 1997 Saturn SL 🔎.

At start up horn sounded, then, smoke was coming from under the dash. Consumer shut off engine, and had vehicle towed to dealer. Dealer determined that wiring harness under the dash needed to be replaced.