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The Super Secret Saturn Switch

What does a nerd have to do with Saturn Automobiles. Well most new cars have as many computers as I have in my house. The theft deterrent systems have become as sophisticated as those in Ft. Knox. This is the lead-in to my tale.

Having owned several Saturn cars over the years, when it came time in 2004 to dump the gas guzzling Caddy, I bought a new 2004 cheap as dirt Saturn ION. The reliability was not as expected. We had some early starting problems repaired under warranty, but after the warranty went, more irksome problems arose. First was the steering problem. The steering would stop so all that you could do is travel in a straight line. Simply turning off the key - no power to the engine and accessories - without mechanically locking the steering wheel solved the problem. This was a $1,200 repair at the dealer. Apparently there is a motor to replace that you can get used which will save a lot of money. If I knew that being a nerd, I would have bought the motor and saved the money. There is nothing a nerd cannot fix, but there are many things a nerd has not yet fixed.

The next problem was more irksome. It was the cold and damp weather "no start" problem. A local repair shop could not figure out how to fix it which cost me $150. Some Internet research suggested replacing the Engine Control Module (ECM) Computer. Right up my alley, so I found a rebuilt one for $325 and the procedure to replace it. No success. However, I did learn that by keeping a 60 watt light on under the hood all night heating the EMC permitted the Saturn to start in the morning. The Saturn was heated all winter long as I tried to make the new computer work. Finally, on a warm day this Spring I tried to jump start the Saturn (it is a stick shift) with the new computer. Still no luck. It was time to try a new approach.

Further Internet searching revealed that if "the white wire" under the steering wheel were cut the problem would be solved. There was a YouTube video with appropriate disclaimers showing how to make this repair. So I followed the video instructions.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take out the airbag fuse. So when I tested the Saturn with the cut wire, well the Saturn started but airbag expanded, knocking me out of the car. Funny thing about how those air bags expand, they cover a lot of area which pushed the Saturn into gear. About the same time the box of wrenches I was using fell on the accelerator making the Saturn lurch forward and speed into and through the garage. Yep, the back wall of the garage made of a few two by fours was no match for the speeding Saturn. It just ran right out the back of the garage which was twelve feet from the ground. That was just enough for the Saturn to clear the fence and the AC compressor. I truly thought as it hit the ground that it would stop, but much to my surprise it kept going until it impaled itself in a big Hickory tree in the rear yard. That totaled the Saturn. The starting problem was finally solved!!!!

The last paragraph is just wishful thinking and NOT TRUE. The truth is I did cut the wire with the air bag fuse removed. The Saturn did start but did not run as well as it should. Also the service engine soon light kept flashing. So now I could not take it into emissions inspection. But the solution was the super secret switch. A simple on/off rocker switch was connected to the white wire. It fit neatly under the steering wheel and is not really visible - hence super secret. So when the Saturn refuses to start, we switch the super secret switch to OFF breaking "the white wire". The we start Saturn and run it for several minutes. Next we turn the Saturn off and turn super secret switch to ON reconnecting "the white wire", then start and run Saturn normally.

As long as the Saturn starts in the morning, I do not care how I get it started. It is preferable to not heat it all night long with a 60 watt light. These are the things we must do to live with today's technology.

Follow up - the Saturn starting problem is due to bad dielectric grease used in the starter switch. The starter switch attached to the back of the key lock cylinder costs around $35 and is easily replaced. However, I am testing an alternate fix which is removing the On-Star fuse from the interior fuse panel. So far so good with the fuse removal, but only a complete Winter test will tell for sure. That fix failed.


Link to moontaj.com: "Does Your Saturn Ion Fail To Start Sometimes?" This explains the root problem. The super secret switch was a bad idea. The Saturn's switch was replaced for $35, but the dealer had to reprogram the computer so the new switch would work. Once complete, we were good to go.

P. D. Moulton and Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server computer support, and virus & spyware removal. Dial-A-Nerd repairs PC (s), computers, networks, removes viruses & spyware and upgrades slow computers 24 hours a day 7 days a week. DialANerd provides immediate remote access as well as fixed price computer repair, network repair, virus & spyware removal services at its local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair shop. Repair completion is typically 24-hours to 48-hours. Dial A Nerd recovers hard disk data and saves your data. Each hard disk is tested for errors for free. Dial A Nerd makes a fixed disk image, recovers and saves your data for about a 90% of the desktop computer, laptop computer, and netbook PC (s) serviced. Dial A Nerd, a local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) repair business provides fast PC repair, computer repair, desktop computer repair, laptop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, and virus & spyware removal services with a warranty. Dial A Nerd works on many PCs including Sony computers, Gateway computers, Hewlett Packard computers, Compaq computers, Toshiba computers, Emachines computers, Clone PCs, and Dell computers in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD). The Dial A Nerd mission is delivering the best quality, affordable cost effective PC repair, computer repair, laptop computer repair, desktop computer repair, Wi-Fi network and wired LAN network configuration & repair, Windows XP repair, Windows Vista repair, Windows 7 repair, network server support, virus & spyware removal, home PC repair, printer configuration, PC - desktop computer - laptop computer - netbook computer performance optimization & speed up service. Homes and small businesses with limited IT service and IT support budgets in the local Columbia, Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland(MD) hire Dial A Nerd.


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7146 Rivers Edge Road Columbia, MD 21044 US
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