98 SL2 Automatic Transmission Hesitates Shifting Into Reverse

When the transmission is hot, there is a 1 to 2 second pause when shifting
from Park into Reverse. If I'm not thinking and step on the gas, the engine
revs and the shift results in quite a jolt which I'm sure is not good for
the transmission. If you just give it a little time, the shift occurs (you
can tell cause the idle speed slows just a little), and things operate
normally.

I've had the transmission fluid replaced with no effect on this symptom. I
haven't experimented to see if the problem occurs going from Drive into
Reverse, guess I should try it and see. Going from Park into Drive works
normally.

Any ideas as to a cause and what I'm looking at in terms of a repair?

Thanks,
Richard Davies

 

Very common Saturn problem, just do a search on "transmission valve body".
Before you go spending a fortune on tranny repair, try a double drain and
fill (drain-fill-drive-drain-fill) with Mobil 1 synthetic ATF fluid. It
solved the problem on my '99 SC2.
Steve

 

Some people refer to it as "reverse slam" so do a search for that as well.
Somebody posted a procedure for it here a few months ago but I don't see it
now (basically replace fluid/filter, heat it up in reverse, replace
fluid/filter again). My girlfriends car was doing it last spring/summer but
it seems to have worked itself out (for now).

 

You will find a procedure to fix that on www.automotiveforums.com and it
works for me!

Good luck
Denis

 

take it to saturn to have it cheked!! Most of the time it is only a
loose bolt on a shift shaft.. about a $70 repair at saturn.

 

Not sure I would do this. Not the drain and refill but the switch to
SYN fluid because sometimes it can be a can of worms with a older
tranny or eng. I do not see mention of the filter being changed though
which can impede the flow of fluid if it is clogged some.

 

I should expound on the problem that we had fixed.. My son's car after
it would warm up would take about 2 sec to go into reverse then it
would slam in reverse. We changed filter and fluid and there was
absolutley NO change in the symtom. He didn't want to try the throttle
body clean fix so we took it to saturn with palns to replace the
throttle body ($ 548 in parts and 200 something in labor.. it's a
assembly replace now NOT just the body) After about 10 minutes of
diagnostic time they said it was probably a loose bolt that is very
common on these vehicles. The adjusted and tightened it and it has ran
like new ever since. Totoal bill with tax was $72.13
What a relief!!

 

Glad to hear you didn't get ripped off. More often than not, this
problem is a loose input shaft nut. My Saturn dealer wanted $2300 to
rebuilt the tranny on my '94 SW2 . I decided to try the valve body
myself and wasted >$400. Another Saturn shop replaced the nut for
$282. A while later, same problem on my '96 SL2. About $15 in parts
and 5 hours later - problem solved. (Note: I also went crazy trying
to find the right "S" tool to hold the input shaft while torquing the
nut to 110 ft-lbs. - $150!. I hear a C-clamp will work.)

 

wow I did get a good deal.. that nut was the problem on my sons car..
did take them quite some time because of the tool and all.

 

I'm having a similar problem with my Saturn and I was told it was going
to cost over $1000 to fix the valve body.

Can anyone recommend a Saturn dealer or repair shop in Long Island, New
York?

 

CW - Are you also getting some harsh shifting?
Nassau or Suffolk? (Don't go to Hempstead - major league crooks!)

 

We've heard a clunking/banging sound when changing gears for a long
time. Now we have problems when switching into reverse (there is a
delay), and there is a whirring noise coming from the transmission
sometimes while driving.

I can go anywhere in Nassau or Suffolk. I read through this usenet
group and one post suggested it may be a loose input shaft nut. I'm
currently being quoted $600+ just to tighten a loose input shaft nut
and change the transmission fluid. The shop told me they have to open
the transmission case to do the work.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

We've heard a clunking/banging sound when changing gears for a long
time. Now we have problems when switching into reverse (there is a
delay), and there is a whirring noise coming from the transmission
sometimes while driving.

I can go anywhere in Nassau or Suffolk. I read through this usenet
group and one post suggested it may be a loose input shaft nut. I'm
currently being quoted $600+ just to tighten a loose input shaft nut
and change the transmission fluid. The shop told me they have to open
the transmission case to do the work.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

I don't remember any noise when it shifted, just a rather harsh jolt -
I think from 2nd to 3rd. And the harsh shift and delayed/no reverse
came on at the same time and all of a sudden. After doing the job
myself, $600 doesn't seem all THAT unreasonable. The tranny doesn't
have to come out and the only parts required are the nut (it has to be
replaced, not just tightened) and the cover gasket, but the job pretty
much sucks. You have to lower the engine a tad to get at the top cover
bolt. You have to break the ball joint to swing the strut out of the
way a little. (There's a tube attached to the cover which requires the
cover to be pulled straight away from the engine quite a bit - the
strut is in the way). You need a thin-wall 23mm socket to get at the
nut. If you have experience and are a fast worker, I have to believe
it's at least a 3 hr. job.