2001 sl2 down shift problem

Hi, I have a 2001 sl2, auto trans., with 88,000 miles on it. Recently it began downshifting hard. This happens when going about 40 mph and then accelerating. There seems to be a hesitation and then it almost jumps into a lower gear. Checked fluid level and it's ok. No ses light either. Upshifting is great, from a dead stop through 4th. Don't know if this would matter but we recently had a lot of snow and ice so I kept the transmission in 2nd and 3rd and drove slow for about a week. Never noticed any problems before this. Any ideas? Thanks.

you could be getting stuck valves. common problem on saturns at around that mileage. try driving it around in performance mode for a little and see if that makes a difference.

I reset the computer, disconnected the ground wire from the battery, and then tried a little performance driving, about 25 miles or so, but it didn't seem to help. Did notice if going around 40 or 45 and slowly depressing the gas pedal till it just downshifts is when it hesitates and jumps into a lower gear. If going 40 or 45 and mashing the pedal to the floor it seems to downshift smoothly into a lower gear. Also my wife has noticed it jumping a few times when shifting from park to reverse. Not sure what to try next, except maybe a trip to the dealer's service dept.

the PERF/NORM switch was only on 91-97 automatics, 98+ the PCM decides whether to shift normally or crazy hard.

slaming into any gear(forward or reverse) is commonly a loose input shaft nut - its a dealer only repair 99% on the time(requires lots of skill and a few special tools), less likey possiblty is stuck valves in the valve body

slamming into reverse only is commonly a dirty valve body - http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23670

ahhh the "slamming" feeling into reverse... $750 at the dealer for the repair... trust me

Well it turns out maybe I got lucky. Took it to the dealer and they found a bad valve transaxle control actuator. Parts and labor total was $290. Been driving it everyday since repair and it's ok. Hopefully it'll be awhile till the next problem.

[QUOTE=sierrap615]the PERF/NORM switch was only on 91-97 automatics, 98+ the PCM decides whether to shift normally or crazy hard.

slaming into any gear(forward or reverse) is commonly a loose input shaft nut - its a dealer only repair 99% on the time(requires lots of skill and a few special tools), less likey possiblty is stuck valves in the valve body

Do what? I looses input shaft nut? If your input shaft nut was loose your wheel would wobble and it would tear up your rotor. That nut is between your rotor and can be easly tightened by removing the wheel and with a 13/16 socket and a 1/2 drive ratchet. That is the only nut that is on the input shaft. The other side is just shoved in a snap ring inside of the transmission which keep the shaft from pulling out. Its not really a dealer repair unless you dont have the tools or knowledge to spin a big nut. I promise you it will not solve the problem. The problem most likely rests in the transmission's valve body. But i cant really help you with that because that is not specialty

Blazen, you are thinking of the CV joint or axle shaft. the input shaft i am talking about is inside the transmission, on the left of this photo: http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=2516

the special tools are a 23MM 12-point thin wall socket and some other tool to keep the shaft from turning.