How similar are '96 and '99 Saturns?

I've had a '96 SL-2 for a couple of years, and bought a full set of factory
service manuals for it almost immediately.

Just bought a '99 SL-2 earlier this week, which is obviously a very similar
vehicle. My question is, *how* similar? Certainly the '96 manuals will be
adequate for at least some repairs on the '99, but I don't have a feel for
whether that portion might be 5%, or 95%, of the tasks.

Any guidance would be appreciated. TIA.

 

they should be comparably similar, not much different at all, same 1.9L
engine and same trannys in both..

 

Any suggestions on where to get a set of manuals (or DVDs?) for a 98 SL-2?

Thanks
David Ross

 

IIRC 'Lane' knew most of the ends and outs of the changes in the S-
series. I dont think he has posted here for some years. I think there
were a number of changes in 97 and I think the heads were altered as
well. Also at some point the resistance for the shift solenoids changed.

 

I got mine on eBay. You might also be able to order them from a Saturn dealer.
IIRC, I checked into that, and went the eBay route after finding that they
were indeed available from Saturn, but at a price higher than I was able to
afford at the time. I paid about $75 for a three-volume set of printed manuals
in three-ring binders. These are Saturn factory service manuals, the same ones
used in Saturn dealership service departments, not Haynes or Chilton manuals.

 

You can refer to the ultimate swap guide for engine/drivetrain differences:

http://www.saturnspot.com/performance-modifications/15149-ultimate-swap-guide-thanks-tsn.html

I was in the same boat with purchasing the correct service manuals for a car
when I had some that were a few years different. I decided that no matter
how similar the cars were, it would only take one difference to potentially
mis-diagnose or fix something incorrectly. I sold my old FSMs to a friend
and bought the correct ones.

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]