A slipping starter solenoid -- or a solenoid that fails to engage the flywheel on your SL1's engine -- typically can be traced to damage to the starter pinion gear. The solenoid receives the necessary power to operate the starter, and if the solenoid's wiring is loose or corroded, it will only receive a short burst of current, making starting your Saturn near impossible. If you suspect a problem with the starter solenoid in your Saturn SL1, you should replace both the solenoid and the starter motor entirely. The solenoid attaches to the starter and should not be replaced individually.
Open the driver's door on your SL1 and apply the emergency brake. Turn the ignition off and pull the hood release lever before you exit the car.
Raise the hood and locate your SL1's battery within the engine compartment. Loosen the bolt securing the negative cable to its post with a socket wrench. Lift the cable and terminal away from the battery.
Raise your Saturn SL1 with a hydraulic jack, just behind the front, driver's side tire. To prevent the car from rolling off the jack do not raise the car any more than 12 inches from the ground. Place a suitable jack stand alongside the hydraulic jack to aid in supporting your SL1. Never work on a car supported only by a hydraulic jack.
Slide under the front of your Saturn inline with the driver's side headlight and locate your starter motor. The starter mounts on the lower, front of your SL1's engine. Your starter will resemble a short, metal canteen that has a smaller version of itself -- the solenoid -- attached to the side of it.
Note the color and exact position of each of the wires connected to the solenoid before you remove them. If you have to label the wires in order to remember their places, do so.
Remove the nuts securing your SL1's solenoid wires in place with a socket wrench. Take each of the wires off its terminal stud on the solenoid. Gather the wires together and temporarily tuck them out of the immediate working area.
Locate your starter's two securing bolts. Both of the bolts sit at the opposite end of the solenoid's mounting position. First remove the upper mounting bolt from your SL1's starter with a socket wrench. Fully support the starter with one hand and begin removing the lower mounting bolt with your socket wrench as well.
Grasp your starter with both hands after you have removed both of its mounting bolts and carefully lower it away from the front of your SL1's engine. Your new starter will come with a new solenoid already attached to it.
Raise your SL1's new starter up into mounting position on the front of the engine. Support the starter with one hand and use your free hand to begin threading both of the starter's mounting bolts. Tighten them until snug by hand, before you let the starter go. Secure both of the bolts in place with your socket wrench.
Place each of the wires that you removed from the old solenoid back onto their corresponding stud on the new solenoid. Install and tighten the wires nuts with your socket wrench to secure them in place.
Remove all of the tools that you used from beneath your Saturn SL1. Remove the jack stand and begin lowering your SL1 safely back down to the ground. Secure your SL1's negative battery cable to its post with a socket wrench and shut the hood.
