Hard Shifting gears

Tiny
CAROL WALKER2
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 SATURN SL1
  • 4 CYL
  • MANUAL
  • 162,000 MILES
It has become difficult to shift gears. What may be the problem and what is the estimated cost to fix this?
Sunday, October 16th, 2016 AT 8:01 AM

11 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
So at idle at a stop it is hard put into all the gears? Then if you shut the car off it goes right into each gear?
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Sunday, October 16th, 2016 AT 8:12 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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Hi CAROL,

It sounds like the clutch disc is starting to fall apart not allowing the input shaft of the transmission to slow down or stop which makes it hard to shift gears, the cost on a new clutch for your car should run about $850.00 to $1050.00 US depending on who does the work i.E. The dealer or an independent garage.

Please let us know what you find so it will help others.

Best, Ken
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Tuesday, October 18th, 2016 AT 5:16 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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What usually happens on those Saturn's if that's the case is the pressure plate has lots of little fingers that pushed down by the clutch fork and throw out bearing. Over time the ends of the fingers wear and get distorted leaving different heights of the fingers. So only part of the clutch disc gets released. Also is the clutch pedal have pressure all the way down or does it drop some before there is pressure?
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Tuesday, October 18th, 2016 AT 10:48 PM
Tiny
CAROL WALKER2
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
SaturnTech9. My car shifts easily when I turn off the engine. With the engine running, it is hard to put into gear.
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 AT 4:27 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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So does the clutch pedal have pressure all the way down?Or does it drop some the have pressure?
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 AT 8:12 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Also it's hard to shift into all the gears?Or just some of the gears?
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 AT 8:13 AM
Tiny
CAROL WALKER2
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It is hard to shift from 2nd to third, from fourth to fifth and from fifth down to first. Normally, it is easy to shift from 1st to 2nd and from 3rd to fourth. It is difficult to get it into reverse from any gear.
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 AT 8:24 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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It really sounds like the clutch is having a problem. Like the input shaft is not stopping which would indicate a clutch problem.
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 AT 9:52 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Iam going to ask one more time when you push the clutch pedal down is there pressure all the down?Or does it drop some then get pressure?If it has pressure all the way down you need a new clutch kit put in your car.
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Wednesday, October 19th, 2016 AT 8:05 PM
Tiny
CAROL WALKER2
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No, the clutch pedal has pressure all the way down.
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Thursday, October 20th, 2016 AT 2:36 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Then you need to replace the clutch
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Thursday, October 20th, 2016 AT 6:41 AM

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