- am having a problem with mys w 2 - throws.

Tiny
MINISMOM
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 SATURN SW2
  • 35,100 MILES
Hi - am having a problem with mys w 2 - throws tranny codes all of them - garage person told me to just junk the car as it needs a new transmission - check engine light is on - shifts great - does not go to fast though especially up hills - clunks when you shift out of reverse especially when engine is hot - does not do it when cold - woudl it need a new pcm & I have other electrical problems with it - ie elect doors don't work all the time, fuel pump relay gets burned out about every two months, heater works sometimes, how expensive is this to fix? I have replaced the motor, exhaust with cal required by manufacturer, struts, battery, fuel pump - reg garage does not want to work on it so I found a saturn tech (not a gm tech that fixes saturns) near where I live - he said that he would look at it - if it is the pcm then where is it located and how much of a job is it to fix it - thanks minismom
Monday, December 3rd, 2012 AT 5:32 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
MINISMOM
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
It is a l995 with 351,878 on it to be more specific - body is in great condition & is great in snow so that is why I fix it -
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Monday, December 3rd, 2012 AT 5:33 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
I highly doubt its a ad pcm they dont go bad that often what are the transmission codes you have please list the numbers?I doubt you have every transmission code set. So you have a delay bang into reverse?Only when the fluid is hot?Also the car takes off in 2nd?If so it could be a pressure problem and I would perform a step pressure test and pressure test on the transmission.I was a factory saturn tech for over 16yrs myself.
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Monday, December 3rd, 2012 AT 5:40 PM
Tiny
MINISMOM
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I did not see the codes while I was at the garage -so I can't answer that? For you - I stopped by the garage in a panic as the check engine light went on & they put the car on the hand held computer and told me that it was the transmission - the guy checked the transmission fluid and it was down a quart and refilled it - have not checked it nor is there any on the ground where I park the car

the delayed bang is only when the car has been run for a while - if I let it cool off then it shifts into reverse fine - as soon as I start the car in the am the check engine light comes on - - the car does not take off in second - there is not any power going up hills as the tachometer does not go up and the car does not excelerate properly -

if the check engine light goes off the car stalls and I can't get it started it again - I have to move the fues panel or giggle the relay and then it will start - the fuel pump relay gets bruned out only on one prong of the relay - the doors work sometimes - same with the heater - the radio works ok but the light is not working - I bought the car 3 years ago and replaced just about everything in it - as it is real good on gas - I have a truck that is a hog so I drive the car most of the time

thanks
minismom
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Monday, December 3rd, 2012 AT 5:53 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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If you have no power going up hills then most likely its staying in 2nd gear thats call limp mode when the computer detects a bad enough failure in the transmission. With the code numbers I dont know if its a electrical issue like the connector going to the transmission or might be a pressure issue. But with the reverse issue when the fluid is warm sounds like a pressure issue. But again without the code numbers iam flying even more blind then usual trying to help you over the internet.
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Monday, December 3rd, 2012 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
MINISMOM
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  • 5 POSTS
The guy in nashua said that it needed a pressure regulator and without looking at it he told me that is a ball park guess and the other guy told me that if it needed a regulator then it was located on the side of the transmission as there is only about an inch of space work and the transmission has to come out - that is why they told me to drive it until it stops and then junk it - they dont' want me to waste my money on it - but it has turned out to be a million dollar car! Thanks for the advice / help with it -

am probably going to fix it -

again thank you -
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Monday, December 3rd, 2012 AT 6:24 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
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What other guy told you the pressure regulator was on the side?The pressure regulator is located in upper half of the valve body under the battery. Without a pressure test I couldnt tell you it needed one I bore the valve bodies and install sonnax sleeves and pressure regulator kits in them when I make those repairs.
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Monday, December 3rd, 2012 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
MINISMOM
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
The guy at the garage told me that there is a pressure regulator near the transmission & in order to change it then you have to take the tranny out as there is only a small place to work - guess he was not correct - so this should be an easy fix & cure the electrical problem - as soon asmy truck is up and running am sending the car to the saturn guy to have him look at it -

thanks for all of your help
minismom
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2012 AT 3:21 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Yeah there is no need to remove the transmission there is plenty of room to make the repair in car. Just make sure the saturn guy replaces the valve body with a sonnax upgraded pressure regulator sleeve regulator and spring at the very least sonnax also makes a boost valve I have all four in my valve body and put them in my sisters and brothers valve bodies. They shift alot nicer just keep in mind the shifts will be firmer then stock was. But it will be better then it was stock the pressure regulator was the weak point of those transmissions.
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Tuesday, December 4th, 2012 AT 5:23 PM

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