1996 Saturn SL1 Headlights

Tiny
REMOTECONTROLOVE
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 SATURN SL1
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 138,000 MILES
I replaced a burned out ignition switch on my wifes 1996 SL1. When I put the combination switch back on and the steering wheel the turn signal switch went bad and the headlughts would not come on and I replaced the combination switch. The headlights still won't come on. The parking lights and the daytime running lights work. I checked the fuses for the headlights and they are good. I also checked the power at the the headlights and there is no voltage. Any ideas?
Sunday, March 28th, 2010 AT 6:33 PM

7 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi remotecontrolove,

Thank you for the donation.

The headlights should have battery voltage at all times and since power is not available, you would need to check the headlamp fuses in underhood fuse box. Use a test light to test the fuses for battery voltage.

Power must be present at the Orange wire at the lamp bulbs.
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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 AT 10:26 AM
Tiny
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Thanks for the reply. I checked the fuses again and they both show good. I checked for voltage at the orange wire with my meter with one probe to the orange wire and the other probe to ground and it shows 12 volts. I check the other wire the same way and it shows 12 volts. When I check for voltage with one probe in the orange wire and the other probe in the other wire with the headlights turned on I show no voltage. The airbag clock spring was not put back on due to the mounting brackets being broke off of it. Could that be my problem?
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Thursday, April 1st, 2010 AT 6:15 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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At the combination switch, check the black wire for continuity to body ground.

If you ground the Dark Blue wire, the low beams should come on.

Grounding the Pink would have the High beams working.

The air bag clock spring would affect the
air bag system but not the headlights.
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Friday, April 2nd, 2010 AT 9:16 AM
Tiny
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There is continuity to ground for the black wire. When the dark blue wire is grounded the low beams come on. When the pink wire is grounded nothing happens. Is the new combination switch bad?
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Saturday, April 3rd, 2010 AT 11:06 PM
Tiny
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Grounding the Dark/Blue getting the low beams to work indicates the new switch is faulty.

If grounding the Pink wire did not get the high beams to work, eiteher the bulb or its wiring circuit is bad. If you have a DVOM, test the Pink wire for battery voltage.
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Sunday, April 4th, 2010 AT 1:53 AM
Tiny
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It's fixed! I feel really stupid though. I was taking the combination switch out to return for a different one. I was going to check with an ohm meter accross the pins to double check. I found 2 pins bent over. The one for the black wire and the one beside it. I straightened them and put it back together. I don't think I bent them when I originally put the switch in or they all would have been bent. But its fixed.

Thank you for your expertise. I would have never figured it out without your help.
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Thursday, April 8th, 2010 AT 11:01 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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You're welcomes and glad to know you have fixed the problem.

Sometimes new parts do have problems and it is always a time waster as we tend to overlook the item since it is new.

Thank you for using 2carpros and have a nice day.
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Thursday, April 8th, 2010 AT 12:03 PM

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