OT: 1992 Saturn with automatic transmission hangs up...

Will Herring · Jul 30, 2009

Okay, so we have this old 1992 Saturn car, and it has an automatic transmission. However, sometimes when you are driving it down the road, it doesn't change gears properly. The engine will start to over-rev as you keep accelerating (meaning it isn't shifting, I think). So you have to stop, shift to neutral, then back into drive. That usually fixes it. But I hate having to do this (it can be downright dangerous, you know). Any idea what may be causing this and how to fix it?

Bob · Jul 30, 2009

AFAIK, MEN who post on tractor boards don't drive saturns!

Will Herring · Jul 30, 2009

Hey, when you don't have a lot of money and you need a "town car" (it gets 30+ miles to the gallon, you know), you take what you can get for a good price.

Bob · Jul 30, 2009

Been there, done that (but NOT with a Saturn)!

Just josh'in 'ya, though!

Probably some "tranny medic in a can", a new filter and some new oil wouldn't hurt, though!

Brokenwrench · Jul 30, 2009

Hey Will,
Those are a pretty rock solid little trans. At high miles they can get into alot of valve body wear issues. Usually requires a new valve body right from saturn.

Will Herring · Jul 30, 2009

Sounds like a good start... Anything else?

Any idea what may actually be causing it? Is the transmission dying?

=EDIT=

A new valve body, you say? Hmmm...

I wonder how much that would cost.

Owen Aaland · Jul 31, 2009

You really need to use a scan tool and pressure gauges to check what is happening. The transmission is electrically controlled so you need to know if the problem is mechanical or electrical. Usually slipping will set a DTC and turn on the check engine light. The transmission will go to default speed and you have to shut the ignition off to reset the PCM to get it to shift again.

If it is not setting codes then it is not seeing a mismatch between input shaft speed and output shaft speed. That would tend to point to a converter problem rather than in the transmission. Have you changed the filter and is it full of oil. Towing the car on it's wheels requires adding oil to overfill it. Not lowering the lever may cause problems, too much oil may cause foaming.

You should be aware that there are different gear ratios between the single cam and the dual cam engines so if you were to change the transmission, you need to get one that matches the PCM or it will not shift.

Gun guru · Jul 31, 2009

I had a 2002 saturn.....Junk!

I had the same type of problem with my transmission. I traded the car in 3 years ago for a Cobalt, 89,000 miles on the saturn.

I recommend changing the trans fluid and filter and see if that helps. If not and the car has a lot of miles then maybe junk the car, my 2002 saturn was the worst car I have ever owned from new. It rattled real bad. I actually wrote the Saturn dealer a letter explaining the problems I had with the car and that it is a poorly made car.

noncompos · Jul 31, 2009

There"s a very good Saturn forum (saturnfans.com??? Google for it, it"ll show up) that has much much tech conversation. Forums are broken up into the various models etc; might save a lot of guessing.Good luck.

Jeff-oh · Jul 31, 2009

Sorry to hear of your expierence. We bought a new Saturn (before GM destroied the brand) and had that car for 315,000 miles. Then sold it for $2K. Best car we ever had.

Jeff

Will Herring · Aug 3, 2009

Will see about putting in new fluid and filter.

OT: 1992 Saturn with automatic transmission hangs up...

Will Herring

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Bob

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Will Herring

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Bob

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Brokenwrench

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Will Herring

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Owen Aaland

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Gun guru

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noncompos

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Will Herring

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