so my saturns passenger window has an odd problem
the window has power and does technically work but only slightly.
I have to continuously pull the switch to make it go up or down.
Every couple clicks it might move some but most of the time it doesn't budge, then some days it will roll all the way down in one go.
i replaced the window motor thinking the old one was bad but it made absolutely no difference

Any ideas what could be causing this problem?

 

The passenger window on a '98 SL1 is not an auto down nor an auto up window so there is no way that it could go all the way down normally with one press and release. The window switch must be physically actuated in both directions. I suspect the innards of your switch I have dirty contacts turn that down switch itself is not moving completely up and down but has a slight angle to it as it goes up and down.

. Also if you look at the switch from the front of the car, you will probably see plastic of the housing worn away from the switch being pressed down in such a way that it does not wear evenly. This causes misalignment of the contacts with the fixed part of the switch.

I have taken mine apart and cleaned the inside from built up of vaporized carbon from arcing. You just need to be gentle. I have not tried to fix the off-axis movement of the switch. Once you clean it you will find that if you keep it moving up and down in a plane perpendicular to the ground it will be much more reliable. But until that plastic wear is taken care of, it will never be quite right.

The alternative is getting a switch module from a junkyard. I believe 93/98 should work and possibly 99. As long as it looks exactly the same with the four switches and the power mirror control behind it, you should be fine. But do not trust me, check the part numbers and compatibility.

I'm assuming your vehicle has a power passenger mirror as I believe these came in the same options package.

You can find these at junkyards but go ahead to save yourself time to see if they have any Saturns on the lot. Never tried to buy an aftermarket version so I don't know if they exist.

If you do go to replace it, be sure you slide the module forward before pulling up on it or you will break the retainer tab at the rear top of the module and it will forever slide around in its hole.

 

What derf said. Defective switch.