Interchangable transmission or not?
 

I have found a 2003 Ion with an VTI transmission and I was wondering if it will be a direct replacement for the VTI transmission in my 2004 Vue.

Does anyone know what models and year groups I should be looking for to find a replacement transmission?

If you have a junkyard nearby, check with them and see if they have a Hollanders exchange manual. That should tell you. Is yours an AWD or 2WD? If it's 2WD, according to pull a part interchange the 03 should interchange with an 04. BUT, I'd call autozone or advance or whoever you live close to and see what they say. Just for s*)&s and giggles, I checked Autozone. According to their info, they're different. The 03 trans # they have is A75201 and is $3384.99 with an $855.00 core. For the 04, they show part # A727501 and it's $3930.00 with a $705.00 core. Both come with a 3 year warranty, however they want you to call a tech support line and talk to them first before installation. Going by the different part #'s they have, I don't think they'll interchange. Keep looking man.

My Vue is a 2WD automatic with the Ecotec 2.2L 4 cylinder engine.


The problem with the Hollander manual and salvage yard computers is that if there is the slightest difference if transmissions from vehicle make and model it will call it non-interchangeable, when the unit will work in the vehicle you need a component in with even slight modification. I checked with my local Autozone and they do not sell transmissions for the Vue. Don't know why not here but they do where you are. Strange. Either way I would never spend that much to fix the vehicle.


Once again, I was hoping that with all the vast knowledge on this forum there would be a few folks that would know other year, makes and model vehicles which have transmissions which will work in a 2004 Vue. Some modifications are ok as long as they are not major.

I would not advise going with another CVT in there. You will end up with the same issues eventually. Most people do a swap to the AF23 transmission.

I don't think anyone on this site has completed it such a swap (hence the lack of responses) but I know there are details of said swap on other Saturn sites. I believe there are some small mods.

The CVT to AF23 swap has been done successfully on Ions and Vues with the ecotec-- you just need to know how to do it.

PM me for more info.

What dref said, or convert to manual. Last choice, part it out.

I could always put a Olds Toronado (prior to 1978) unit under the hood and have a bit of fun and super reliability! Just kidding!


What vehicles did the AF23 transmissions come in? I seriously do not mind mods as I have done them on cars since I have been working on them. I am very good at electronics and fabrication and have a fully equipped personal shop to do it.


Yes, people seem to love the so called "good used" CVT transmissions which they have according to the prices I see.


Parting the vehicle out is not an option. I will definitely swap in a standard unit before I kill this low mileage (106k mile) vehicle which is in excellent condition. Too much money to be made. The standard conversion required parts would cost me right under $300.00 for everything, CV shafts and all. I realize that some mods will have to be done other than just an R&R such as wiring harness, ECM and neutral safety switch to begin with.


Before I go the hard way and go through all that trouble though I would still like to know the answer to my original question which I can not seem to get.


"What other year, makes and model vehicles which have transmissions which will work in a 2004 Vue?"

Search (Saturn ION wikipedia) I think it's listed and what years.

Why not just call a Saturn friendly GM dealership and ask them, Andy? I think that's probably the only way you're going to get that question answered.

Cool, I will do both as suggested. Thanks guys.

I have succeeded in converting my 04 Vue into a fully functional 5 speed. Been driving it for a while know. Sorry to have forgotten to post an update. Everything bolts right up with exception to having to drill three holes in the firewall for the clutch master cylinder. They were simple to locate where to drill due to there being circles for the mount bolt holes for the cylinder on the automatic transmission equipped Vue firewall.



Transmission was out of a 03 Saturn Vue but I would say that any year Vue would work as long as the transmission came off the back of a 2.2 Liter 4 cylinder engine.

List of required components:
"Don't forget to keep all of the hardware when acquiring the following parts"
1. 5 speed transmission complete with flywheel, clutch, pressure plate and all transmission mounts including the one inside the frame on the top of the tranny.
2. Center console shifter assembly complete with shift cables, trim piece which surrounds the shifter which holes the shift boot.
3. Clutch and Brake pedal and bracket assemblies with mounting hardware and clip for the brake master cylinder linkage.
4. Clutch master cylinder including hose / pipe line which runs from master cylinder to slave cylinder on bell housing.
5. Engine wiring harness. Remove automatic harness and transmission control computer. Engine computers are the same. Plug and play.


If you buy all these parts at a place like pull a part you can do this conversion fairly cheaply. Lots of labor, but fairly cheap.


The only issue which I had initially:
1. There was no neutral safety for starting. All I did to fix this was to run two 14 gage wires from the switch on the clutch pedal and spliced into the small wire on the starter thus interrupting the start signal to the starter unless the clutch pedal is depressed.
2. The "reduced power" light and "service engine soon / "check engine"" light stayed on. I immediately and several times since starting to run and drive the Vue I have hooked up my scanner to the vehicle and there are never any codes.


The Vue runs and drives great!

Af23 swap in progress but I need the wiring diagram
 

What year and model is donor AF23 from?
What year is the Vue into which you are swapping it

Some interesting information at the attached link below. Has to do with using different harnesses to make it easier and someone actually included pictures of splices though I don't know if they are still available. You will have to join the site to see any of the pictures or view any of the attachments.

Hopefully you labeled what each of the wires were when you disconnected a transmission harness of the vti. I'm confident there are other articles on Saturn fans about this swap. The one below is just the one I found first and opened.

ANYONE swapped a VTi for an AF23 in a VUE? - Page 4 - SaturnFans.com Forums

Saturn ion/vue
 

I put a 06 5 speed standard vue transmission in my 06 ion as a replacement. Almost all are identical

Thanks. That has nothing to do with this thread.