2002 Saturn SC2 shifting problem

SHOTY

MEMBER
2002 SATURN SC2
1.9L
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC

I bought a 02 saturn sc2 that has tranny problems ' an from what I have read an the codes I had ' po732 '733 '734 got me beleaving that it was the valve body 'so I got one from a wrecked saturn at the junk yard an it did'nt help. I mean at first the tranny shifted perfect untill it warmed up. Now I dont have reverse an only the first gear works. I changed the filter an put new fluid. Should I just replace the whole tranny or is there something I can do to fix this one?

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

Do you stillhave the same codes since you replaced the valve body?A used valve body wasnt a good a idea you dont know the condition of the valve body. Its pretty common that the pressure regulator bore in the valve bodies wear out and cause too low of pressure or too high of pressure. Before any repair was done you should have bought a transmission pressure tester kit and performed a transmission line pressure test.I have worked for saturn for over 16yrs and iam a factory trained saturn tech and still would have performed a pressure test. Theres a couple of other things that go on besides the valve body. The input shaft nut loosens up that will cause no reverse when it gets hot. Also there is issues with the wires to the valve body. Then a loose connection to the terminal for the main power feed at the 68 way connector on the inside fuse box that feeds power to the transmission actuators. Also the line pressure actuator goes bad and the actuator buss plate fails or leaks fluid. Those are some of the common issues those transmissions have.

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Sunday, July 6th, 2014 AT 9:00 AM

SHOTY

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Hi again
will I done more researching an found out that the valve body I got from the junk yard came off a single over head cam' an I read it wont work. So I went an got another vale body from the same car as mine an after installing it I drove the car an it shifted perfect for about a mile an the the same thing it only had first gear only an no reverse. After the car sat for 5minits or so I got reverse again. So instead of driving the car I held the brake on while it was in reverse just idleing after 1 minit of that the tranny made a disingageing noise an reverse was gone. Now you mentioned to me that I should do a presure line test' can you tell me where to hook up the gage to do that. An if theres a problem there can it be fixed?
I realy appriciate your time an I thank you much. Shoty.

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Sunday, July 13th, 2014 AT 4:29 AM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

First of all the 1993-2002 valve bodies are the same single or dual cam engines. The transmissions themselves are different internals as far as gear ratios. As far as measuring the transmission line pressure thats done thru the transmission temperature sensor hole. So what codes do you have in the computer now?

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Sunday, July 13th, 2014 AT 4:52 PM

SHOTY

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I'm getting the same codes as before po732'733'734.
This is the second valve body ' so lets eliminate VB's
can you send me a list of other things I can change that might be causing
the trans to act this way. Im not worried about the cost because I have a friend
that works at a junk yard but I am not ready to change the whole trans because when it shifts an acts right its as smooth as can be.
Can it be the cars computer?
A list of things I can do an try would be appreciated.
I can go right now an start the car an dive it an it will shift perfect for a mile
like I said it only has 1st gear until it cools off.

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Monday, July 14th, 2014 AT 8:38 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

If you have no reverse I would say there is pressure loss somewhere possibly a loose input shaft nut. If we did a pressure test we could try looking into that. Also I have seen open terminals on the 68way connector of the inside fuse box.