LW200 electrical problem

[Zeros_Spark]

Hello all, I’ve come to the forum hoping to find answers to a problem that just came up with my 2002 Saturn lw200. Everything was working fine till yesterday when I noticed that the heater seats stopped working. When the heated seats are turned on, the light showing they are on does not turn on. I also found that the blower motor for the air stopped turning on and finally the defrost doesn’t work anymore either. The only thing that works in that address is the radio. I checked any fuse I could find related to those systems and they were all fine, I checked both drivers and passenger side fuse panels. Can anyone help me figure out what the issue may be and why all 3 would stop working at the same time? I’m kind of in a bit of trouble because it’s been raining a lot and everything is fogging up inside the car so it’s becoming dangerous to drive but it’s my only car. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

[02 LW300]

IGN3 fuse in the left fuse panel is 10 amps, this provides power to both heated seat switches.
Exactly what parts of the hvac system do not work? No blower? Do the doors move the airflow? Is it automatic or a manual system? Does the temp adjust with a knob or buttons?

[Zeros_Spark]

Originally Posted by 02 LW300

IGN3 fuse in the left fuse panel is 10 amps, this provides power to both heated seat switches.
Exactly what parts of the hvac system do not work? No blower? Do the doors move the airflow? Is it automatic or a manual system? Does the temp adjust with a knob or buttons?

None of the hvac system works, the blower motor doesn’t come on, it’s a manual system and moving the dial to move the actuator door does nothing either.

[02 LW300]

Hvac has a 300 page manual, I will take a look how that system is powered.

[02 LW300]

Ign3 fuse is powered through the ign3 relay in the left fuse panel. The power to the relay comes from the 40A max fuse HVAC fuse in the underhood fuse box. Check both sides of the 40A fuse for power. Pull it out and sweep the connectors if you get power on both sides.
The next step is the relay in the left dash fuse panel.

[Zeros_Spark]

Originally Posted by 02 LW300

Ign3 fuse is powered through the ign3 relay in the left fuse panel. The power to the relay comes from the 40A max fuse HVAC fuse in the underhood fuse box. Check both sides of the 40A fuse for power. Pull it out and sweep the connectors if you get power on both sides.
The next step is the relay in the left dash fuse panel.

I will check the fuse and check for power along with the relay if needed first thing tomorrow, thank you for the info!

[Zeros_Spark]

Originally Posted by 02 LW300

Ign3 fuse is powered through the ign3 relay in the left fuse panel. The power to the relay comes from the 40A max fuse HVAC fuse in the underhood fuse box. Check both sides of the 40A fuse for power. Pull it out and sweep the connectors if you get power on both sides.
The next step is the relay in the left dash fuse panel.

Ok so I went to my cousin who’s a mechanic and we checked everything you listed here and switched the relay and fuses in the left fuse box. He believes that my hvac controls are bad and recommended replacing them but idk. I’ll retest it again just to be sure because I don’t think that all of it would go bad at the same time along with the heated seats and rear defroster.

[02 LW300]

Does the Ign3 fuse turn on and off with the key? This tests the circuits in the left fuse panel.
The rear defroster is part of the hvac panel. The power to the heated seats switch is ign3. You said the switches are dead. The power to actually heat the seats comes from the right fuse panel, but the switch has to have power.

You may have to remove the left fuse panel and check connections on the back side. If you do not have power to ign3.

[fdryer]

Zeros_Spark, there may be wiring diagrams from past threads to help. Many I posted from service manuals along with others. If not found, I would suggest alldata.diy or Mitchell online for service manuals. Having wiring diagrams is better than guessing.

[Zeros_Spark]

So it looks like the obd2 port is dead and the power mirrors are dead too, so I’m thinking fuse panel on drivers side may be bad for all of these systems to not be working. Is that a safe assumption?

[02 LW300]

It may be as simple as a broken or corroded connection on the back side of the left fuse panel. Do you have a test light and know how to use it. You have never answered questions about What fuses work and when.

[Zeros_Spark]

Originally Posted by 02 LW300

It may be as simple as a broken or corroded connection on the back side of the left fuse panel. Do you have a test light and know how to use it. You have never answered questions about What fuses work and when.

Apologies, I tested all the fuses in the engine bay that you suggested and they were all good, my cousin said he checked the ones in the left fuse box but he seemed more interested in the relay. I’ll be checking them myself when I have time but also the interior lights are also out. This car has so much not working it’s not even funny. I do have a test light and know how to use it so that’s what I’ll be using to test tomorrow.

[02 LW300]

The dome lights are a battery hot circuit. All the other items you have described are ignition hot circuits.
The left fuse panel is the main in car panel. The right panel is used for optional equipment if you get what I mean by that. All cars came with dome lights and hvac so the power for those are in the left panel. Sunroof, power seats etc are in the right panel. It is not difficult to remove the interior trim panel other than being under the dash. Sometimes removing the seat makes it easier. The seat will unbolt when all the way forward. There are two T40 bolts in the tracks at the rear. Lift and pull back and the seat comes out of the slots at-the leading end. Tilt the seat back forward then disconnect the wiring. The seat comes out the door easier in that configuration.
I think there are two nuts holding the fuse panel. It will allow you to turn it around to access the back side for inspection.

I am a professional mechanic and have a complete set of factory service manuals for a 2002 L series Saturn. 2000-2002 are the early body style. The 2003-2005 are the late body style and have some very minor wiring differences.

[Zeros_Spark]

So yesterday I was unable to test with the light because I started the car to take my wife to work and sure enough the heated seats, the blower motor, the actuator, and the rear defroster all started working again. Not sure why or how but it did. Mirrors and interior lights still out but I tested it today and still working. Any thoughts on the matter? I figured testing was pointless since it was working again but I can if you think that I’ll still find something.

[02 LW300]

I may be as simple as pulling the Ign3 relay and plugging it back in. Your cousin is probably correct. Why don’t you buy a Delphi relay to replace ign3 relay. I would pull every fuse a couple times to sweep the contacts. Make sure the diodes go back in the same way. They point towards the front of the car.

[Zeros_Spark]

I’ll replace the relay then and clean all the fuses. My cousin thought that the actual HVAC controls had failed and had no explanation for the heated seats. He also didn’t understand why you wanted us to check ign3. I explained that they were part of that system but he doubted the relay being the issue. I did switch the relay with the one next to it, as it was the same one, to see if everything would work but it didn’t, not till yesterday at least. So either both relays are bad/going bad or it’s something else like the back of the fuse panel or something I’m missing entirely. The obd connector still doesn’t work but the check engine light went away so I don’t think I’ll need to access it for now, but I do want to fix it. I will buy a new relay and see if everything keeps working properly.