1996 Saturn SL1 Headlights

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?

7 Replies

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

REMOTECONTROLOVE

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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

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

REMOTECONTROLOVE

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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

KHLOW2008

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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.