Gear Problems (transmission)
 

Im having a problem with my car. When i put it in drive, the car will run in 1st gear (30mph, 4k RPM.) It will not shift until i put the car down into 3rd. When i put the car down into 3rd, then back to drive it will drive normal, and great just like no problem at all. Until I Put the car into natural then back into drive. When i do that the problem starts all over. It wont shift into a higher gear in drive, until i shift to 3rd first, then back to drive.


How it all started: The car had a check engine light, so i went and got it tested and my local advanced auto parts. They said it was just an O2 Sensor. So i changed that out, ran it for about 40miles and no check engine light. About 3 hours later i went to get into the car and drive away well it wouldn't start. So i thought it was the Neutral safety switch, so i changed that out, it was not the problem so i put the stock one back in. Then i changed the starter out and BAM it ran fine. except the car now wont shift gears. Once i do the Drive, 3rd, Drive. Thing the car wont act up until I turn the car off, and back on again.

So knowing i was over my head i took it to my local transmission place, he said that the transmission was in great shape, and he believes its an electrical problem somewhere.

I was wondering if anyone might have some advise on what might the problem be.

I thank you in advance for anyone willing to take the time to read this, and i do apologize on how long this is i just wanted to get all the information in this that i could. Thanks again.

Ok not that is matters. What year is the car? What model is the car? What transmission is in the car? You know, not that it matters.

and i do apologize on how long this is i just wanted to get all the information in this that i could. Thanks again.

sorry its a 2000 Saturn ls1, and its the stock transmission.

Look around the starter for any wires you may have knocked loose while changing the starter. Like sensor wires ground wires.

Guessing it's an automatic transmission.

I checked once before, but i will check again, thank you for posting.



And yes its an auto transmission.

You might also look and make sure you didn't pinch a wire between the starter and the block when you bolted the starter.

It may be important to know if the computer is throwing any codes. If you can get some one to read it anyway. The Saturn, like most cars built from about 1990 on up is heavy into electronics and electronics diagnostics.
I would say it is indeed an electric problem but as it is a front drive car and it is over 10 years old it does not take much of an impact on a connector or a wiring harness to screw up something electrical.
I blew a fuse on my Hornet the other day, a much simpler car and very much simpler in it electronics. Unfortunately it took me 4 days to trace down that along with blowing a fuse I burned a wire out in 4 locations. I found the first one and thought I was done. Wrong. While your care is much more complex, it is also prone to a multitude of problems with the wiring and a code as sampled by the computer might very well lead to finding out want is going on.

A quick check of the underhood junction block fuses that have TRS on them might be of help here

Unc and Ocean speak the truth.