Saturn Question

[TheNewLMHDesign]

Ok, its a 1997 Saturn LS. I can't tell if it's the alternator or not. The lights in the interior are flickering, but the exterior lights are not flickering whoever. I know its not a grand am, but i figured you guys would know since its a GM car.

All the lights, dash, radio, interior, are up and down when the car is at an idle, and sometimes during a drive.

Guessing alternator, your thoughts?

[4kQuad]

I'll buy that guess, and maybe add

grab the battery wires while it is running, wiggle them, watch the lights as you do it. If you can make them dim just moving a battery cable. You found the problem, if they dont dim, clean up every thing at the battery real good.

If all those connection are clean and it's still doing it, get the charging system checked. Or grab a meter and check youself if you know how.

[rixGAphx]

Definitely do the things 4k suggests, especially cleaning/tightening the battery cables/terminals.

I would go look for a loose connection at the interior 'dimmer' control, since this problem is across-the-board interior but not on the outside.
Has there been any recent work done under the dash, like a new stereo?
If so, think about asking that technician to examine the problem and see if s/he might have, uhm, 'inadvertently displaced something' (pc way to say 'screwed it up' :D ).

I wouldn't look to the alternator as the primary cause, since a failing alternator has several other symptoms you *apparently* don't have.

Even a marginal alternator/battery combo *may* have lights that fluctuate a little in brightness at idle.
But it's almost ALWAYS the headlights (since they are the greatest amperage draw), rather than the small incandescents of an interior.

Good luck.
-Rick

PS: And report back, curious GM owner's want to know about others solutions.