Bucking as its shifting into gears

Tiny
BABELL2009
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 SATURN SL2
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 158,858 MILES
I only owned my car for two months and it ran fine. Just recently it started "bucking" as it shifts gears. My transmission fluid is fine and my oil is fine. However, I cannot find the problem as to why my car started bucking. Any ideas why it started or what I would need to fix it?
Monday, May 23rd, 2016 AT 4:39 PM

32 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
So are there any codes in the computer? Also does it buck/flare going from third to fourth?
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Monday, May 23rd, 2016 AT 6:36 PM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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I took it to the garage today to get it checked. They told me the overdrive mode is no't working at all. He suggested that I get the transmission fluid and filter flushed and put new in plus the ATC conditioner stuff. As of right now I have to drive it in third gear because the fourth is not working at all. The gears still kick some when I starts to go in motion. Plus my rpm's are not going down as it should when driving.
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Thursday, May 26th, 2016 AT 6:46 PM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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Back down.
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Thursday, May 26th, 2016 AT 6:46 PM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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Also the computer that they hooked it into said I was a bad pressure solenoid.
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Thursday, May 26th, 2016 AT 6:47 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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What was the exact code numbers not code descriptions they found in the computer?
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Thursday, May 26th, 2016 AT 7:47 PM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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I honestly I did not get the code. Plus he never told me. Just informed me that it was bad pressure solenoid.
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Thursday, May 26th, 2016 AT 7:52 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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That would really help because if you had a P0434 that does not mean just replace the solenoid. It is hard to say without knowing all the information. Before I would replace anything I would be scanning it for codes and doing a pressure test.
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Thursday, May 26th, 2016 AT 9:55 PM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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How can you do a pressure test?
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 12:15 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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You can do a high low pressure test with the transmission pressure gauge set. If nothing is found there then you would need a professional scan tool that is capable of doing a step pressure test on that car.
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 2:51 PM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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  • 17 POSTS
Alright I will have to check into that. Can you purchase a test like that at an autozone?
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 3:06 PM
Tiny
MIKE H R
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A transmission fluid and filter change may be all you need.
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 5:48 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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That is a really long shot sounds like a pressure issue these cars are well known for pressure regulator issues in the valve body's. The bores wear and the pressure becomes unstable. You can try to changed the fluid but I would be beyond amazed if it fixed the problem.I got my pressure gauge set online it's a otc one and it was under 70. It is a pretty nice one.
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Friday, May 27th, 2016 AT 7:04 PM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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Alright I will look into it.
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Sunday, May 29th, 2016 AT 2:48 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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Let us know what you find.
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Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 AT 6:45 AM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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Well I am gonna get the transmission fluid and filter changed ASAP, but if that does not work I am guessing it is the pressure solenoid or the transmission is going bad.
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Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 AT 1:40 PM
Tiny
KEN L
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That is what it sounds like. Please let us know how to turn out so it will help others.
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Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 AT 1:42 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Usually it is the valve body that needs replacing. With the valve body off air check the clutch pistons to make sure there all good if they are then it is the valve body.
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Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 AT 1:43 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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But I would start with a high low pressure test followed by a step pressure test before removing the valve body.
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Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 AT 1:45 PM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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I will have to inform my uncle on this stuff so he can get the idea of checking it.
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Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 AT 2:02 PM
Tiny
BABELL2009
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So needless to say I did get the filter changed and the oil changed, but it did not fix the shifting of the gears and my overdrive worked like once, but it slipped. I am at the option now that I have to get it pressure checked.
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Thursday, June 2nd, 2016 AT 6:15 AM

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