The 300's do it also....
2004 L's do it too. (I test drove them myself to find out for sure.)
Go to Saturnfans.com and read the posting titled "Heading to Arbitration"
and you will learn alot about this headlight issue (and loads of other
issues). Also once there, do a search for "dimming lights" and read those
too.
For as much as I love everything else about my L, I wish I had never bought
one.
Oh yeah !!! Also go to NHTSA.dot.gov. (National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration)
Read up on the L owners complaints from 2000 and up. Also make sure to read
about the investigation NHTSA did this year on the L regarding the 1.5 to
2.0 voltage drop that was discovered, yet the "reason", (excuse), there has
not been a recall yet.
I wish I had known about those sites before buying my L.
My 2003 L has the dimming lights problem and trust me, it is a deadly
problem.
Cleaning the cables did not fix mine and Saturn refuses to change the
alternator, plus threatened to void my warranty if done elsewhere. One
Saturn service manager even informed me that there is a serious design flaw
in the L.
He said, "In his opinion nothing is going to fix the dimming lights in the L
series until Saturn redesigns the entire car......
All lights on my car dim due to power drain, everytime the auxilary cooling
fan kicks on. That can be dozens of times in a matter of minutes depending
on temps.
Most of us who are public with this issue are not talking about a slight
dimming. It is such a severe dimming, that at night you lose sight of the
road. Plus it happens so often it is causing road rage towards us from other
drivers. It also gives the impression to truckers and other motorists
passing us that we are flashing our lights to give the "clear signal" for
them to move over into our lane..
If you go to the above mentioned sites, you will be amazed when you read
about the situations we L owners are facing due to this dimming lights
issue.....and Saturn could care less.
In my experience and countless others, Saturn Corp. does not stand behind
their product like they used to.
So you know, Saturns stand on the dimming lights is that "It is a "normal
operating procedure on ALL L's. We designed it to act that way".
They also claim it is NOT unsafe, since our lights are not going ALL the way
out ..........but anyway go to those websites and read all that and more.
Best of luck with whatever car you buy.
If you still decide to buy an L, I hope you will not become the newest
member to the "Unhappy L Owners Dimming Lights Club".
Most Sincerely,
Pandorasun
