Transmission Slow to Shift Into Reverse 2002 Saturn SL2
Reader Question Hi,
I just recently bought a 2002 Saturn SL2 with 65k miles and automatic transmission. While test driving it, I changed gears numerous times to see if it slammed into any gears or hesitated. It never did it.
I drove the car to work for 2 days (32 miles each way) and now it’s started randomly hesitating before going into reverse. I’ve tried it from Park to Reverse, Neutral to Reverse, Drive to Reverse, with the Emergency Brake up in Park to Reverse and it really does it like 1 out of every 3 or 4 times.
I’ve replaced the air filter and windshield wipers because they were disgusting and I planned on doing an oil change and checking the spark plugs/wires this weekend because I don’t know the last time they were done but like most people, I’m getting worried that I might have a transmission problem.
From your website, I read that I should check my transmission fluid and I will do that tonight after work but I was just wondering if you had ANY inclination as to what might be causing this.
Any at all help would be much appreciated,
Thank you,
Sherrell
Hi there Sherrell,
I am assuming you have already checked your transmission fluid by now….and hopefully it was low and adding the proper amount of fluid has cured the problem. If you still have problems though, I would recommend you get a transmission shop to take a test drive with you and experience the same problem first hand.
Usually this type of problem is due to low transmission fluid or a low fluid pressure internally of the transmission. 65K miles is not a whole lot of miles, and not really enough to get me to suspect you have internal transmission problems but anything is possible. Slow to reverse is usually a pretty common symptom of early transmission wear and the need for an overhaul.
I would talk with the transmission shop and get them to experience the problem. Personally I would go ahead and service the transmission fluid and filter and see if that helps the problem. Normally I would not recommend you do this in this situation since it can sometimes cause the problem to get worse, but at this mileage interval I think I would take a chance.
Since you did not mention anything about the transmission slipping in any of the other gears…again, I would change the fluid and filter. I would also use a transmission fluid additive designed to prevent slipping after the filter has been changed. Most transmission shops will have a favorite brand in stock.
There is a chance this could be a linkage adjustment issue, so make sure the transmission shop checks the linkages and bushings to rule out a possible out of adjustment issue.
Here is an article I wrote about changing transmission fluid, just so you are aware of the potentials.
Blessings,
Austin C. Davis
Hi again Austin,
I have checked the fluid. In my opinion, it looks really good. It’s nice and red and doesn’t look dirty at all. Since I last emailed you, I figured out that the car only hesitates and then slams into reverse after a long drive (after my 45 minute commute to work or longer). If I take the car for a short drive or when I first start the car up, it doesn’t do it. Does that give you any other ideas?
Thanks
Sherrell
Hello again Sherrell,
If the fluid is nice and reddish pink in color I would bet the transmission fluid has been recently serviced…..did they do it to see if this problem would go away, I am not sure, but maybe they did? I would expect the fluid to be dark and a little gritty feeling on your fingers at 65k miles if the fluid had not been changed recently.
I think since it only seems to do this after a long extended driving time, I would just leave things alone. If the fluid is full and clean, and there does not seem to be anything wrong with the linkage, then this is most likely an internal problem inside the transmission. It might last 100K miles like this or may get worse very soon….too hard to tell these things.
But, since you just took ownership of the vehicle I would probably go ahead and have the internal transmission filter changed out just as precautionary maintenance. Talk to a transmission shop to verify that your exact model and engine size does in deed have a replacement filter (some models do not) and if it does I would replace it.
I would also start using a transmission additive made for slipping issues. But other than that I don’t think there is much you can do about this and I would definitely not worry about it too much either. Setting aside a few bucks each week into a car repair emergency fund is always a good idea though, just encase an unforeseen repair arises.
Blessings,
Austin Davis
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ALL staurn sl2’s have 2 (two) transmission filters! Most people do not realize this. And it will not show up in any manual other than the GM TAAT transmission factory Manual!
Their is a non-servicable Sump-filter just like all other “normal” automatic cars and trucks, but…. because there is no lower pan on the transmission… most people do not know about it. It acctually IS the root cause of ALL the so called reverse slam issues and slipage or skipping gears. It also causes the failure of the valve bodies in TAAT transmissions.
It Is replaceable and we currently buy them from oreillys for a little over $15 each. THEY ARE A TOTAL PAIN TO REPLACE!!!! Even for a shop like mine that specializes in cars like this. There is a way to replace it without removing the transmission. But it is very difficult if you have never tried before, and most likely easier and more cost effective to have a local mechanic remove the transmission and replace it for you!. Very few of the cars have come back to us after the replacement. only about one in 10. And they needed the valve bodies replaced because the filter was clogged for so long the damge had already been done. but so far (please GOD do not let Kharma bite me) we have had ABSOLUTELY ZERO COMPLAINTS OR RETURNS OR TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS ON ANY SL! OR SL@ SINCE WE STARTED THIS PROCEEDURE IN 2001.
Matt owner M&M’s automotive and towing Sanford NC
An SL2 has a spin on cartridge filter for the trans, similar to an regular oil filter. There is no internal filter, and the transaxle also has a drain bolt for the trans, so doing a trans service is pretty much like doing an engine oil change, although you have to remove the air intake box to get to the filter (not a big deal). The reason your trans is exhibiting these early failure symptoms is the valve body has small internal passages that get easily plugged over time, and the higher than normal line pressures to engage reverse are not being met. There are fixes that some people have used with success, like using a commercial ‘cleaner’ mixed with trans fluid (Seafoam makes a good one), and I know a guy who installed a trans cooler, keeping the trans fluid temp down and increasing line pressure. That ‘slam’ you experience because you have to give it some gas to get it to drop into reverse will loosen the output shaft bolt in the trans, and you will eventually exeperience a total trans failure, so you want to minimize to the best of your ability that ‘slam’-this problem can be resolved, as can the valve body problem, without removing the trans-there is a little cottage industry of people who sell refurbished valve bodies, and if you fix the loose nut issue, you need to purchase a new one since the old one will not stay torqued to the 111 ft/lb required-a new bolt comes with a special coating on the inside thrreads that help keep it in place. My 99 SL2 has 178,000 and has the reverse delay after it has been driven for a while-I will eventually be doing these fixes, but for now live with is as it is pretty cold here and is not too bad (yet).
Your Saturn has a bad tansmission valve body. That will cause the delay into reverse as well as the hard/late shifts.
I NEED HELP WITH MY 2001 SATURN SL2 TRANSMISSION JUST REPLACED IT WITH USED TRANS. AND IT IS STILL DOING THE SAME JERK AS IT GOES THROUGH GEAR CHANGES AND ESPECIALLY WHEN PUT IN REVERSE IT JERKS BAD AND MAKES A KLUNK SOUND FROM FROM TO BACK. THE COMPANY THAT FIXED IT TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PUT SOME MILES ON IT SO IT WOULD RESET ITSELF. PLEASE HELP SO I CAN TAKE THIS CAR BACK TO THEM AND TELL THEM TO FIX IT RIGHT 2,000 IS A LOT OF MONEY I DON’T HAVE TO END UP WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS.
Your engine idle speed might be too high or you could have a broken engine or transmission mount??