Transmission shifting issues

Tiny
JAMING87
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 SATURN SC2
  • 1.9L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 191,000 MILES
Engine light is on and throwing the trouble code P0732, P0733 and P0734 which comes back as second, third, and fourth gear ratio incorrect. I am praying this is not something internal. Please help me figure this one out.
Sunday, May 6th, 2018 AT 9:30 AM

20 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,870 POSTS
Alright, I need to know is there a delay when putting it into reverse before it engages? Most of the time with those codes you have too low of pressure inside the transmission. Caused by a worn pressure regulator bore inside the valve body. I know these cars well also the input-shaft nut under the transmission side cover loosen up causing pressure issues as well.
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Sunday, May 6th, 2018 AT 5:59 PM
Tiny
JAMING87
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There used to be a delay on the original transmission, but the used one does not appear to have that issue now. I thought that as well. When you talk about pressure and the shaft regulator bored and the input nut which they say if that was lost then you would definitely have that delay, as well as hard shifting for the reverse gear. Which it is not doing.
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Sunday, May 6th, 2018 AT 8:45 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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If you have second third and fourth gear ratio codes then there has to be a low pressure issue. That would cause multiple gear ratio codes. What was your old transmission that you changed doing?
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Sunday, May 6th, 2018 AT 9:13 PM
Tiny
JAMING87
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Pretty much the same thing but including the reverse not even engaging.
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Sunday, May 6th, 2018 AT 10:48 PM
Tiny
JAMING87
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Just curious though is the transmission on a 01sl2 the same kind of transmission on a 02 sc2?
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Sunday, May 6th, 2018 AT 11:10 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Yes, they are both mp7 transmissions so there the same gear ratios. So you even had the same codes as well with the old transmission?
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Sunday, May 6th, 2018 AT 11:13 PM
Tiny
JAMING87
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I ask because the only video I could find on YouTube on how to tighten the input shaft nut was on a 01 sl2.
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Sunday, May 6th, 2018 AT 11:15 PM
Tiny
JAMING87
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And yes to your other question. Which also included a loss in the reverse gear before all of this happened. I should also mention it was getting weird, I guess best way to describe it, a double shift when I would give it more acceleration, when it would gear down. Kind of harsh in some cases when shifting.
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 4:24 AM
Tiny
JAMING87
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Oh, and with the old transmission that was original, started work on the car I was just getting one code for second gear ratio incorrect. Then when we started taking a look at things to try to diagnose the key problem that that code went away and a third gear ratio incorrect at that point popped up. That is when we started to drop the original transmission out. It broke down and in the midst of the breaking down we noticed a couple other things. The radiator had breached with the transmission cooler and was letting water in to that transmission. Next there was a fair amount of metal shavings which we came across needles from one of the needle bearings, but I do not think that was the man issue. After replacing the radiator under warranty, and also checking/fixing the wire harness on the valve body pan. It was at that point that I ended up getting all the gears on a ratio incorrect.
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 4:40 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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What did you have to fix exactly on the connector to the top of the valve body?
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 6:46 AM
Tiny
JAMING87
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Replaced the whole connector together. I did notice while I was doing that, there were other wires that had been spliced prior to me owning the vehicle. Which it appeared they either went to the knock sensor, crank shaft sense or the, and correct if I am wrong, but vehicle speed sensor since from what I researched there is also a turbine speed sensor which is located on the transmission.
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 6:52 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The turbine speed sensor is right by the transmission filter under the air filter box. The speed sensor is by the firewall down by the axle. The knock sensor is around the wires going to the valve body. Also the crankshaft position sensor is basically under the starter.
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 9:20 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Are you sure all those wires to the valve body are all going to the correct places to the connector? If those were messed up you could have all kinds of issues. Can you post some pictures of those repaired wires for me? You have a lot going on here. If it were a untouched issue it would be a lot easier to work through it. But since all the repairs there are so many more variables now.
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 9:24 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Also meant to say the knock sensor is not by the valve body wires it is down under the intake manifold.
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 9:25 AM
Tiny
JAMING87
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Yeah you will have to give me a little bit, because I am not with the car and I have to remove the intake and battery rack which I know only take like fifteen minutes. I will definitely will get some pictures for you, and I think that the harness prior to me replacing it head also been replace once before.
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 10:35 AM
Tiny
JAMING87
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
  • 2002 SATURN SC2
  • 1.9L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 191,000 MILES
I need help I feel like I have done everything I can and still have not fixed my problem.
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 12:01 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KEN L
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Did you try the input shaft speed sensor? This will cause the problem you are having. Here is the location. Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what you find.

Cheers, Ken
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 1:08 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The output speed sensor and input sensor are the same exact sensor used for both and they very rarely fail and set other codes then gear ratio codes. It is common for the input speed sensor harness to get damaged because it is right by the transmission filter. But when they get damaged they set a code for the input speed sensor.
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Monday, May 7th, 2018 AT 8:30 PM
Tiny
JAMING87
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So should I still check the sensor or no? And if I were to check the sensor what am checking ohm resistance or voltage or what?
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Tuesday, May 8th, 2018 AT 2:40 AM
Tiny
KEN L
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The problem with trying to test the sensor is you need to watch it with an oscilloscope to watch the wave form. It might test good through the winding's but perform incorrectly. It should have very little resistance.

Check out the diagrams (below). Please let us know what happens.

Cheers, Ken
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Tuesday, May 8th, 2018 AT 11:18 AM

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