Auto Trans Thuds Into Reverse

Hi, all. I have a 1993 SW2 (I know this is the SL section) with 40,000 actual miles and an auto transmission. When I shift it into reverse, it pauses, and then the transmission shifts into reverse after a lag. Often, there's a thud also. It's worse when cold. The car has been flat towed behind a motorhome, but before I had it.

Any thoughts will be appreciated.

um...if it makes you feel better, my friends '96 SL2 does that. she has to press the gas for the transmission to actually go into reverse gear sometimes.

Hi, all. I have a 1993 SW2 (I know this is the SL section) with 40,000 actual miles and an auto transmission. When I shift it into reverse, it pauses, and then the transmission shifts into reverse after a lag. Often, there's a thud also. It's worse when cold. The car has been flat towed behind a motorhome, but before I had it.

Any thoughts will be appreciated.

My 95 SL2 does that thud in reverse too, kinda scarey, it such a hard thud it seems like it would be damaging. I'd love to know what it is, please don't say replace the tranny, I'm already replacing the engine.

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My saturn is doing that whole thud reverse thing as well. It's a 2001 SL2 and I just bought it used from a dealer in April and have had some pretty annoying problems with it. I am taking it to the mechanic tomorrow because my saturn is having a hard time excellerating and there is some reving/whining noise that accompanies excelleration. If this turns out to be a huge problem and I not sure that I will ever buy another Saturn or buy from that dealer ever again.

Ran accross this before, sombody said it had to do with a part in the transmission that had warped.
my 96 sl1 started doing it at arounf only 140, and only when hot. Chand the fluid and filter and it eased up a bit. Put it in Nutral and then tap the gas, it'll shift without the thud then.
Now at just over 230K 3rd tensioner, 2nd alternator, 2nd set of plugs and 3rd battery, still going.

...When I shift it into reverse, it pauses, and then the transmission shifts into reverse after a lag...

Matt, I've had this problem and had it repaired. The Saturn dealership found a valve in the auto trans that was sticking, causing the bang. The dealership charged about $800 to repair it, and the problem hasn't surfaced since. They cleaned up the tranny while they were in there as well, so it was money well spent.

This is a common problem with Saturns. I wish I had the answer but i tap the gas petal in reverse, it engages, then i go. It makes you think the reverse solenoid is sticking.

Although there are other things it could be, the most common is the upper valve body. there are problems with the pressure releif valves. I would not attempt this repair yourself, take it to the dealer and have it diagnosed correctly before replacing a $400.00 upper valve body.

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listen to wolfman, he is a saturn god. if you search the saturnfans board you will find your answer.

Common problem, have had this on my 94 for about 5 years, still works, just have to give it a second to catch up and shift into R. My Saturn dealer told me 4 years ago that if I didn't fix it (at a charge of $325 just to ID the problem), the transmission eventually wouldn't shift at all- hasn't happened yet :)

same thing happens to me. The way I stopped it. I just came to a full stop, shift to R, wait untill I feel it go into reverse (its a soft thud at the most) and then hit the accelerator. Hitting it before then will almost always cause it to jolt.

you need a new upper valve body

you need a new upper valve body

theres a good chance you won't need a new valve body if you follow wolfman's how-to over at saturnfans.com