99 SL1 issues Backup Lites and Odometer light
 

Hello I have a 99 SL1 with a few nagging issues, its my daughters car so want to correct them.

First is the backup lights, Fuse is good and I bypassed the switch on the tranny (manual) with a jumper and still didnt light. Testing the purple and yellow wires that go to the switch and neighter is putting out 12 volts when key on. So I suspect there is an issue between the fuse and the wire going to the switch. Any thoughs on where that runs back to or if my testing is flawed? What wire should have 12 volts feed on it the yellow or purple?

Second issue is the odometer appears to be a digital one and the numbers are not lighting anymore. Is this just a bulb behind something or is it truley digital and its a component thats dead? If its a bulb how do I get in to change it?

THanks

Jen

Well, dunno what to say here other than;
the PINK wire comes from the fuse and the LIGHT GREEN wire goes to the lights. These wires are located on the top of the transaxle on the reverse switch. I have no idea at the moment what the yellow or purple wire go to.

Hi UncleJohn yeah after I wrote this and went and looked at the wiring diagram I saw I was on the wrong connection on the transaxle. Read a different thread that stated the back up switch is on top of the transaxle behind the battery, I found it and bypassing the swich and the backup lights work so just needs a new switch.

THe second issue with the odometer is wierd, I can see the numbers on the odometer, they are there just not lit. SO im thinking its just a back light for the numbers even though they are digital, any thoughts?

Sorry, can't help you on that. I do not know what the dash board actually looks like nor how it works. If it is like my 94, it is a light. If it is like my 1987 X-Lincoln Continental, luminesent 7 segment displays, a car that had a few things that actually did not break. That was a $2000 factory Warrentee repair, one of many which eventually convinced me is was worth taking an $8000 loss just to get rid of the damned thing. 25 miles before the bumper to bumper Warentee ran out. It took me until 2007 to be able to afford an upmarket car new out the door again. And was the last Ford product I ever bought. I never regretted seeing it limp out the driveway and down the road. Rumour had it the next owner had a $4000 repair bill in the first three months then I lost track of it. I did however regret the loss of $8000 but I lived through it.

Well thats a bummer we've had pretty good luck with our Saturns just a few nit picky issues like this one.

Thanks again

As far as that digital odometer, it is just a bulb. The cluster comes out fairly easily for bulb replacement.

Hi thanks, I found a thread that talks about how to get the dash pack out to get at the bulb. Im going to give it a try when I have time

Phil

So if I dive into the dash to replace a "bulb" what bulb/ bulbs should I take with me. ie. what number bulb?. I think I would replace all of them while I am in there. And I want to have them on hand. ( they where all put in there at the same time you know !)

On a whim I thought I would look in the "owners" manual for the bulb #'s .. low and behold . pg. 345 starts a list of ALL the bulbs used in my Saturn.

By the way , the odometer bulb # is........ #73

The Saturn Owners Manual!
One of the most useful books I have ever read. The early Saturn’s were really pretty well packaged. The owners manual was full of useful information on how to take care of the car.
As a comparison to that statement when the dome light burned out in my Chrysler the section on replacement said take it to a dealer and have the mechanic show you how to remove the lense so you can replace the bulb.
So I did.
They wanted me to pay them.
I showed the passage in the owner’s manual and said I would not.
I didn't either. but I found out how to take the lens off.
Don't know how true that is on the newer ones when they became part of a re-badged corporate platform or as old school would say, assembled from proprietary parts, but the owners manuals were good. Something that could not be said about others.