My Saturn is hesitating to shift into reverse and in 3rd gear. When I shift into reverse there is a pause, a hard jerk, and it moves into gear. This only happens when I shift into reverse. Once in reverse there is no problem smooth sailing. The other thing is when it shifts into 3rd gear. There is a slight hesitation and the rpm actually rev as if i jumps into neutral for a moment and then it falls into gear. If I dont accelerate into the gear it doesn't rev but there is bump. Just like reverse once in gear its smooth sailing but there is definetly an issue with my drive train.

I have checked the fluid and it's not that. I actually gave it some lucas about a month ago. Someone said it could be a linkage problem but i really dont know.

Any pointers? The last thing i want to do is take it to the shop.

I really appreciate all the feedback i can get.

THX

kobetx4404

 

From your post, I assume you have an automatic tranny, right?

 

Yes my transmission is an automatic..I should have clarified that...

 

Rebuild the ValvaBody

 

SW2cam has the right answer there (he's our hero). Sloppy shifts and hesitations are a function of the valve body, and a rebuild should take care of all that.

 

Wrench Reverse "Slam" Cure in Saturn Autotransaxles
NOTE: This proceedure "can" often cure a delayed engagement or reverse (reverse slam) in Saturn autotransaxles PROVIDED you have not waited "too long"

DO NOT MAKE UP YOUR "OWN VERSION" follow the instructions exactly...

The "works nearly everytime" cure for the reverse "slam"

1. Change the transaxle fluid and filter (use "conventional" not synthetic fluid)
2. Add your choice of automatic transmission fluid additive (transmedic, Lucas etc...personal choice, Prolong auto transmission additive)
3. Start the car firmly set the parking brake, chock the wheels and or back it up against a firm immovable object (A brick wall works well)
4. Put the car in REVERSE and LEAVE IT THERE, RUNNING, IN REVERSE, for about 20-30 mins at idle.

What this does is use the clean transaxle fluid and additive to flush out the reverse passage in the valve body by simulating driving in reverse for about 10 miles. IT WILL NOT HARM THE TRANSAXLE OR ENGINE IN ANY WAY. After completing this proceedure, (99 times out of 100) your reverse slam will vanish for at least several months and maybe forever (actually usually forever is a better description) Maintain the transaxle correctly from that point forward. If it initially does not work for long, you can REPEAT the proceedure without changing the clean fluid and sometimes net good results BUT if after 2 tries things have not improved you are probably looking at valve body replacement. YOU MUST CHANGE THE FLUID FIRST! Doing this with "dirty" fluid still in the transaxle may actually make it WORSE. Also "normal" transmissiopn "flushes" WILL NOT cure this problem, as they don't feed enough "warm" clean fluid through the valve body for long enough.

 

up to you...personally i'd do the valve body rebuild