Transmission stuck in 3rd gear problem

Tiny
HAWKNAPP
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  • 1994 SATURN SW2
  • 93,000 MILES
Transmission stuck in 3rd gear. No shifting, hard gear engagement, no lockup of torque converter, no error codes from computer trans shop said internal wiring harness needs repair replace, I cant find internal harness listed anywhere as part. Solenoids in valve body check out(ohms). Not a bad solenoid bus plate! Estimate says shifter indexing correct. Could this be a shift indicator switch problem (have not checked switch yet, hard to get to) seems to me like a ground problem all fuses good, trans relay good. May be ground strap to trans? Car starts in third with no shifting no lockup no overdrive and harsh reverse engagement trans does not downshift when lower gears are selected wile driving. Trans shop said it is a minor problem (but wont be specific) if I can repair it myself it would save a bit of money.
Saturday, March 24th, 2012 AT 11:17 PM

41 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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It does sounds like a wiring problem or a shift solenoid I would check the electrical connector at the transmission for corrosion or not on all the way.

Please let us know what you find.

Cheers
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Saturday, March 24th, 2012 AT 11:25 PM
Tiny
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First of all thank you for your time on this as I am very "skimp" at the moment. As for my car it may very well be in second gear but engine rpm is not excessive although take off is very slow.I do not seem to have a "check engine light" on, perhaps I should connect a code reader to the port for the heck of it? This is a listing of diagnosis given on estimate

atf1= atf clean
sh1a= shifter (prndl) indexing correct
dtc2= dtc, s no communication
dr= harsh reverse engagement
r3= third gear starts
q4= no 3-4 upshift
q7= no lockup
low coolant light is on but system is not low

I have checked ground side of relays to fuse block for continuity (all good)but have not checked source side to pcm (were is pcm?) Could a single broken wire on one solenoid cause such a condition (no lockup, no shifting, high line pres ect)?

The only inside wire I can think of other than the valve body solenoids would be the clutch for torque converter lockup, that's only part of the problem and that should throw me some codes!

Faulty gear shift selector switch should also throw me some codes, am I correct? Also faulty turbine(engine)speed sensor should give me codes? Possibly fried bulb in check engine light(better borrow me a code reader) this seems unlikely to me.

Faulty ground strap to tranny? Test light says "no" but that's not the same as a big thick strap! Don't be afraid to get to teki on me as I have worked in electronics field for a time(repaired smt machines) but autos are not my forte again any insight into this is welcomed (even more by po boy like me) thanks.

Hawknapp
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Sunday, March 25th, 2012 AT 3:27 AM
Tiny
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So you have a delay bang into reverse?
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Sunday, March 25th, 2012 AT 3:41 AM
Tiny
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No delay it just goes into gear very hard r and d, also in the past sometimes there would be a delay in reverse engagement tranny fluid was up, a minor thing so I didnt think much of it.
Could this be associated with my current prob?
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Sunday, March 25th, 2012 AT 3:47 AM
Tiny
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And this would cause all the problems I listed?
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Sunday, March 25th, 2012 AT 4:21 AM
Tiny
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The incorrect pressure can cause it to bang into reverse and drive also cause the transmission to slip and cause the transmission to go into limp mode and start out in 2nd gear. Here is what i would do first check for codes see which ones i have then most likely do a pressure test.Get me the know numbers and we will go from there.Do you know how to use a jumper wire to read the engine and transmission codes?

Also here are the wiring diagrams and a guide so you can check the wiring.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

There are a handful of fuses I would check as well.

Check out the diagrams (Below)

Please let us know what you find. We are interested to see what it is.

Cheers
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Sunday, March 25th, 2012 AT 4:11 PM
Tiny
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Yes I do (now). Will check and get back to you thanks!
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Sunday, March 25th, 2012 AT 5:13 PM
Tiny
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Remember the transmission codes flash thru the low coolant light.
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Sunday, March 25th, 2012 AT 5:56 PM
Tiny
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Light on dash (second from left) flashes one time then nothing, no code 12, does this mean pcm may be faulty?
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Monday, March 26th, 2012 AT 6:49 PM
Tiny
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Code 12 is normal does your low coolant light start flashing when you have it jumped?If so see what codes flash out?
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Monday, March 26th, 2012 AT 7:46 PM
Tiny
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I do not have code 12, coolant temp and low level light flash one time (together) then nothing. Perhaps this is the "no communication" trans shop observed, I am sure they used an obd 1 tester instead of jumping like I am. Code 12 should be flash-short pause, flash flash, repeated three times, I am seeing only one flash! At least I can assume diagnostic part of pcm is not working. Could anything else cause such a condition, seems pcs is bad, possible replacement needed? Im stumped!
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Monday, March 26th, 2012 AT 9:27 PM
Tiny
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So what code do you get out of the low coolant/temp light?
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 AT 1:01 AM
Tiny
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Single flash of lights was due to normal bulb test(i inserted jumper then turned key)so I turned key on then inserted jumper. No flash! I AM GETTING NO FLASH AT ALL. NO CODES BEING OUTPUT. REPEAT. NO CODES AT ALL! Nothing. Nada ZIP! Whats up? Mayby pcm malfunction?
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 AT 2:47 AM
Tiny
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So you turned the key to the run position with the engine off then jumped the top row two far right terminals together and no code 12 etc?Did the radaitor fan turn on when you jumped it?Also the check engine light comes on when you turn on the key and turns of when you start the car?
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 AT 6:38 AM
Tiny
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That is the procedure I used, cooling fan does come on but no "check engine light" (i do not even know were it is on inst cluster) I suppose ce light should come on when ignition is turned on (bulb test) but I don't see it. Will check again this morning(i would think ce light would be obvious)is it by the speedo? In that case I may have missed it. Will get back to you, THANKS!
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 AT 2:50 PM
Tiny
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The check engine light should be on the left side when your sitting in the drivers seat down low on the cluster. If the cooling fan is coming on when jumping it sounds like its going into diagnostics mode. If the light isnt coming on when you turn the key to the run position solid till you start out it. Maybe the light is burned out or someone removed the blub or put tape over the blub have seen all those things happen.
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 AT 4:03 PM
Tiny
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Yes, no check engine light! Will check to see if bulb is burnt ect! Will get back to you THANKS!
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 AT 4:35 PM
Tiny
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Sure as heck! Black tape covering bezel! Probably trying to get car through e-check I will now try diagnostic test again and get back to you. Thanks loads!
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 AT 5:41 PM
Tiny
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Code number 25, ats circuit out of range high!(After code 12)no other codes, no trans codes (these would be low coolant light flashing). Does this help?
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 AT 6:13 PM
Tiny
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At the end of tube that plugs into your air box you will see the ats see if its plugged in or the connector is damaged. The sensors never really go bad when there used a ats.
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2012 AT 6:48 PM

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