Sequential electrical failures

Not the same brand though I drive a SATURN now -- but the same YEAR - a

Wife insisted it would just STOP on her .. I was like "O.K ".

Then my friend and I went to Lunch one day and I was driving it, and .."Poof, dead, nothing - was lucky I didn't cause an accident".

K, step one - trusted mechanic.

Just a suggestion: Check all your grounds too. The lugs/screws/bolts to the frame and/or engine can corrode and cause low voltage to your computer and give you the symptoms you describe. Also remove and clean the connectors to the computer too. Good luck

Thanks for the tips. I'll check for those possible bad grounds. As far as the computer, I'm gonna have to read the manual to find out just where it is.

I'm out in the land of crazies and nuts, i.e. CA, so there's no salt on the roads, and the cars' never been anywhere near snow. But I will check for corrosion in any case. Would the computer be under or near the under hood main fuse block?

After you check for at least the obvious grounds, pull the fuses and check for corrosion on the terminals. you can also try having the BCM (body control module) checked. This is the module that is the common element in everything you mentioned. I have a L series so can't speak for the SL2. A good garage might be able to connect up a OBDii tool to access the BCM and exercise the devices in question. Good luck as the BCM is $400 plus installation and programming. Oppie

What scrap yard do you use? I'd say $50 (Maybe $100 at the very max) at the local U-Pull-It place.

Bob

I was quoting the dealer price installed and programmed to owner. The BCM has a lot of parameters that must be programmed in - not the least of which is the odometer reading (ref: L-series shop manual). To my knowledge this can only be done with a Tech2. Most dealers will refuse to work with a salvaged module under the premise that 'it might damage my tool' which is of course unmitigated BS. Speaking as an engineer myself, any designer worth his salt designs a tool that tolerates any downstream faults and at worst, blows a fuse... Oppie