1994 Saturn SL1 Door Chimes when door open. Headlights not

BRIJMIN

MEMBER
1994 SATURN SL1
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
79,000 MILES

Anyone have a clue as to why my 94 Saturn sl1 door chimes when the drivers door is open.

its a fast chime like when the lights are on.

The headlights are not on.

The key is not in the ignition.

it is in park. I think. I say that because sometime the car will not start unless I shift to neutral and then start the car. I assume this is some sort of switch the shifter needs to hit to tell the car that its in Park.

I am in the process of checking that out. Do you think this is related?

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

The chime is not related the chime chimes when u leave ur lights on or ur key in the ignition u ethier have a sticking ignition cyclinder or a bad ignition switch with a stuck key minded button in it. The way u can tell which u have is to turn the ignition on watch the cyclinder go down when u remove the key the cyclinder should come back up if it doesn't u have a ignition cyclinder. If the cyclinder does come back up and it keeps chiming then u have a bad switch. As far as ur only starting the car in neautral not park I have seen bad selector switchs and bent shifter cable holders right at the shifter. Also keep in mind that when u replace a selector switch they have to be adjusted when u install them. Sometimes they set codes in the transmission computer when they go bad but u need a code reader that reads transmission codes. Let me know what u find and how it goes.

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Thursday, December 31st, 2009 AT 11:27 AM

BRIJMIN

MEMBER
11 POSTS

Not sure if this is related or not but I can shift the car into gear without the key being in. All I have to do is hit the break, press the lever button and pull. Bingo I am in drive and the car is not running.

I am leaning to a bad cylinder. A new one is only 65 bucks.

Also I can make the chimes stop if I push the cylinder with my finger, without the key being in.

Thanks for your help.

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Thursday, December 31st, 2009 AT 12:53 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

The ignition cyclinder is easy to remove get a 5.5mm nut driver remove the screws holding the upper steering column shroud then unplug the two connectors above the ignition cyclinder put the key in the acc postion take a screwdriver press the little square release button slide the cyclinder out if it keeps chiming with the cyclinder out and the door open it's the ignition switch causing the chiming. Have u tried pulling the shifter out of gear with th key off and not stepping on the brake try that let me know what happens. Also thank u for ur donation it's greatly appreachiated.

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Thursday, December 31st, 2009 AT 4:35 PM

BRIJMIN

MEMBER
11 POSTS

Its a bit cold here in Michigan so I have not tried this yet.

Do I have to pull the steering wheel?

I can not shift the car without pressing on the break.

Also I can push with my finger on the slot where the key goes and the chimes stop and the seat belt goes to the open position.

I am not sure what has gone wrong with the cylinder but the key is supper sloppy in the ignition and I have to fiddle with it to take the key out sometimes.

I am sure I need to get a replacement from a GM/Saturn dealer because I have to have it re-keyed for my VIN/car.

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Sunday, January 3rd, 2010 AT 2:23 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Its supposed to not go into gear without stepping on the brake. As far as the chiming goes I would suspect its the ignition switch and not the cylinder doing it really common for ignition switch to cause that more so then the cylinder. Does the cylinder pop back up when pulling the key out and the chime stilling staying on?If so bad ignition switch.