|
|
1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
|
|
| |
|
|
pickleme2
New User
Oct 9, 2012, 3:34 PM
Post #1 of 9
(3060 views)
|
|
1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
Sign In
|
|
Hi, I was wondering if anyone has seen this before and had some advice for me? I bought this 1996 Saturn SL2 ( I don't know where to find the engine size, its a 4 cylinder and the engine reads twin cam 16 valve?) with 155,000 miles on it and it drove fine for a month or 2. Then, it started getting stuck in reverse and I had to turn it off and start it back up in neutral and it would go fine. Happened a few times and I thought it was weird but didn't pay attention to it. Then it started happening more often, then about half the time I would put it in reverse.
Then, it started not wanting to go into 1st from neutral once in a while, for instance at a traffic light. Again, have to shut it down, start it in 1st, and it goes fine.
Went to a mechanic, he said the car was junk and needed clutch and transmission replaced. Went elsewhere for a 2nd opinion, they said the master slave cylinder needed to be replaced and did that for me for about $550. No change in the car, so I went back and told them it didn't fix the problem, they said, oh, it looks like a 2 part problem. We need to replace your shifter cables. I was out of money and didn't have them replace the shifter cables. This was a month ago.
Its now at 160,000 miles and it gets stuck in reverse and neutral about 60% of the time. It sometimes works if I come to a stop in 2nd, and with the clutch pedal on the floor, slide the shifter into 1st as the car almost comes to a stop but is just barely still moving, or I can get into 1st from a stop in neutral if I put it into 2nd first, then quickly go to 1st. Same with reverse, if I want to get out of reverse I have to do it while the car is still just barely moving. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
Once in a while I do hear grinding trying to get into reverse, but its only happened 3-4 times the whole time I have had the car. Once in a while it is hard to get into 3rd, but again, only a few times. I can't think of anything else.
I guess my question is, is it worth it to try to replace these shifter cables or otherwise troubleshoot this problem? Or should I have listened to the first mechanic I went to instead of being stubborn and trying to fix something that was a waste of time and $?
Thank you for reading this and for any advice you can give! I'm sorry it was so long but I was trying to include everything.
(This post was edited by pickleme2 on Dec 6, 2012, 7:18 PM)
|
|
| |
|
|
nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 9, 2012, 3:53 PM
Post #2 of 9
(3033 views)
|
|
Re: 1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
Sign In
|
|
Those cables do wear out, but usually result in sloppy shifting. With a new master and slave already on this I wonder about your throwout bearing or trans input shaft. When you are at a stop with the clutch pushed in can you hear a grinding noise? Does your shifter feel like its tight in the detents as you move through the gears or does it feel real loose, like you're hunting around for the next gear position?
|
|
| |
|
|
pickleme2
New User
Oct 9, 2012, 4:56 PM
Post #3 of 9
(3013 views)
|
|
Re: 1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
Sign In
|
|
Thank you for replying! I don't hear any grinding noise when the clutch is pushed in.
The shifter is wobbly when its engaged in all gears, not as much as it is in neutral, but there is still a fair amount of play. I don't have to feel around at all for the gears when they will engage, when they won't engage it just feels like hitting a wall.
I found the bill from the transmission place that replaced the master/slave cylinders and it was also recommended that I replace the front axle seals at the transaxle because they were going to go bad soon and would start to leak, I don't know if that affects things at all?
|
|
| |
|
|
nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Oct 9, 2012, 6:44 PM
Post #4 of 9
(3005 views)
|
|
Re: 1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
Sign In
|
|
That note was likely for minor seepage. If its blown completely you may have lost a good bit of lube oil. Take a look and see if they are heavily coated to the point of washing the dirt off the case. Also check the actual level of oil in the trans. I'd consider changing those cables. Its not the worst job in the world and better than buying a new car.
When you hit your "wall" does it grind when you're trying to push it into gear?
|
|
| |
|
|
pickleme2
New User
Oct 9, 2012, 6:58 PM
Post #5 of 9
(3001 views)
|
|
Re: 1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
Sign In
|
|
Ok, thank you, I will take a look tomorrow during the day and see if I can find them and tell if they are leaking badly, and I will check the trans fluid level also.
It doesn't grind when that happens, but I don't push very hard, I don't try to jam it into gear I mean. I just get back into neutral and try again or shut it down and start it back up. I thought that would be better than being too rough with it and making it worse or breaking something more than it already is.
Thanks again!
|
|
| |
|
|
Kik
New User
Nov 29, 2012, 7:44 PM
Post #6 of 9
(2819 views)
|
|
Re: 1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
Sign In
|
|
Hi, I don't know if you found your problem but I had the same thing happen on my 97 SL and my 96 SC2. Both times I found that the top motor mount ( Passenger side Top) The rubber went bad inside causing the engine to drop just enough to make the shifter Stick as you described. You probably didn't need to have your slave /master replaced at all. The mount can be bought from a local parts store for about $35.00 Make sure to use a jack under the engine with a block of wood in between. You only need to lift the motor about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. Unbolt the old mount and re-install the new one.about 20 minutes and you"re done.
|
|
| |
|
|
saturn tech
User
Dec 4, 2012, 4:54 PM
Post #7 of 9
(2788 views)
|
|
Re: 1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
Sign In
|
|
I've seen this problem many times, the tell all is the fact that you say it shifts fine with the engine off. 99% of the time it is the master/slave cylinder assembly, you've eliminated that (unless the new part is bad). The problem is the clutch pressure plate, you're going to have to put a clutch kit in it.
|
|
| |
|
|
pickleme2
New User
Dec 6, 2012, 7:16 PM
Post #8 of 9
(2760 views)
|
|
Re: 1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
Sign In
|
|
Hi, and thank you Saturn Tech and Kik for your ideas...I haven't even dealt with this problem yet because something else needed fixing on it and the shifting hasn't gotten any worse over time, so I've just been dealing with it. I am working right now on solving some intermittent idle issues/stalling/idling high/surging...tried new plugs and wires because of a PO341, also new air filter, cleaned out the EGR, will be cleaning the throttle body and replacing the IAC this weekend, maybe that will solve it.
What's weird is that the shifting has improved since the idle problems started, shifts a lot better at times than it has in a while. Also, I never found any leaking from the seals. Trans fluid is clean and full.
|
|
| |
|
|
saturn tech
User
Dec 6, 2012, 9:08 PM
Post #9 of 9
(2753 views)
|
|
Re: 1996 saturn sl2 manual trans gets stuck in reverse and neutral
|
Sign In
|
|
Well, you won't damage anything more with your shifting problem besides maybe ending up stranded. Your P0341 can be diagnosed pretty easily with a multimeter (you're 50% there with the parts you want to replace). You're driveabilty issue can be caused by a multitude of things and can be diagnosed too if you have a scan tool with access to the data stream, cleaning the throttle body and a new IAC, I give it a 40% chance of fixing it. If you do have access to those tools you can figure it out instead of guessing. I'm not sure if Nick or these other helpful guys will want to start a new thread but I'd be glad to help either way. Good luck.
(This post was edited by saturn tech on Dec 6, 2012, 9:17 PM)
|
|
| |
|
Auto Repair Home
SEARCH
WHO'S 
LOG 
(@PURE)SSD CHEMICAL SOLUTION IN UK +27672716140
