1999 SC2 Won't start, stalls, radio presets lost

I have a 1999 Saturn SC2 that will not start at times. It won't crank and the door chime will not be working and the radio presets are lost. If I smack the dash board the door chime will come on and the car will start and be fine for a while. It also died on the road a couple times but restarted after smacking the dash. I found information on another forum about a burnt terminal on the IP fuse panel on the 68 pin connector in position F-5. F-5 has a brown wire in that position. I need some advice before I break something. I tried to remove the 68 pin connector on the back of the fuse panel, located in the center console, by backing out the 1/4 inch bolt in the center of the connector. The first couple turns were easy but the next couple got harder. I am wondering if there is a release tab or maybe this is an indication that the terminal is fused to the connector. I also checked the battery terminals and reseated the chime module. Any advice would be appreciated.

Sounds like you need a bcm, its right under the dash where you were smacking. actually I thing that its your pcm and bcm, there is only 1 computer in that year of car if I'm not mistaking.

Sounds like you need a bcm, its right under the dash where you were smacking. actually I thing that its your pcm and bcm, there is only 1 computer in that year of car if I'm not mistaking.

Correct. there is only a PCM in the 1st and 2nd gen. In the third gen the BCM was made as a separate piece.

Correct. there is only a PCM in the 1st and 2nd gen. In the third gen the BCM was made as a separate piece.

Thanks guys. Can you be more specific about the PCM's location? Passenger side?

its right behind the speedo on the driverside , you just have to remove the top of the dash and maybe the speedo to get to it

I would think that its a loose connection at the PCM or one of the wires going to it.

Here is an update on this problem. Since I tried to remove the 68 pin connector the problem has not reappeared. It went for about 2 weeks with no starting problem so maybe I reseated the connection somewhat. I could not get the connector unplugged though.

It's a moot point for me now since my son blew up the engine about a week ago. Bob