hi i have a 1997 saturn SL1. 3 weeks ago i payed a mechanic to find out what was wrong with my transmission. it would not shift out of reverse. the shifter would move but would not engage any other gear. come to find out it was apparently a loose pin. it has happened again and now it will not shift into 2nd 4th or reverse. here''s what i find tricky, there is total free movement where 2nd 3rd and 4th are. no notches or anything. i have to rev high RPM''s in 1st and shift right into 5th to go anywhere. to get to 5th i have to shift as i was shifting into second to the right and up. i wish not to pay a mechanic again and would like to do the matinence myself.
a good buddy of mine said that it would be solely that, that would give me this wretched problem. if anyone could help me out ASAP. i have to leave town today and with my luck this happened yesterday after noon.

thanks, mark holland

also, it will jam some times and will not even move to reverse or any of the right side gears

Its the shift cables. One of them has broken or become detached at one of the ends. My money is on its broken. Pretty easy fix. Just pick up a new set of cables. But dont have that mechanic fix it. He''s an idiot if he couldnt figure out such a simple problem.

My 1999 SL had a similar problem six months ago (around 200K miles). I went into reverse and my stick just flopped around (I hate when that happens). And I was stuck in reverse, couldn''''t shift to another gear!

Rather than drive it in reverse for 8 miles to my transmission shop, Ihad AAA do it''''s thing. The shop replaced the shift cables.

Cost me approx $250, after all done. The cables were probably only $85 of it, but I''m not that good with transmission issues.

Good luck.

Edited by: crzesk8dad

It wasnt a transmission issue. It was a cable issue. A couple clips and removal of the center console is all that needs to be removed.

True, LowSaturn, but my abilities with autos are a 2 on the 10 scale!

I just know enough to be dangerous and costly!

i had a similer problome and i little bit down the road after leaving work my tranny lock in 3 and 3 holes had blown threw it one threw my bell housing and 2 threw my tranny it would lock in revesr i owuld have 2 take the gear selector plate off and put it in nutral litralay manually not fun but i replaced the tranny and now im having problomes with having presur on my clutch to shift gears i start it and push the clutch down it won go in gear for some reson i cant figur it out iv been doing this for liek 2 or 3 mounths with ths car long tranny problome and my tag and inspection go outa date this mounth

425,
Disregard what I replied to your same question on a different thread, regrading stroking the clutch pedal. You''ve got other clutch-transmission issues!
MINI