How similar are '96 and '99 Saturns?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Doug Miller, Mar 6, 2008.

  1. Doug Miller

    Doug Miller Guest

    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.
     
    Doug Miller, Mar 6, 2008
    #1
  2. Doug Miller

    marx404 Guest

    they should be comparably similar, not much different at all, same 1.9L
    engine and same trannys in both..
     
    marx404, Mar 7, 2008
    #2
  3. Doug Miller

    DLR Guest

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

    Thanks
    David Ross
     
    DLR, Mar 7, 2008
    #3
  4. Doug Miller

    BläBlä Guest

    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.
     
    BläBlä, Mar 7, 2008
    #4
  5. Doug Miller

    Doug Miller Guest

    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.
     
    Doug Miller, Mar 7, 2008
    #5
  6. Doug Miller

    Lane Guest

    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 ]
     
    Lane, Mar 16, 2008
    #6
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