SL2 Transmission swap

Okay, so a weird probl. I'm driving down the freeway and I hear a popping noise. I get off, jack the car up and I find a hole in the transmission. I'm thinking a gear threw a tooth or something. The clutch pedal dropped, and it is very difficult to shift but all gears apparently still function. The speedo also stopped functioning, and I am aware that the speedos on these cars are electronic, not cable driven. I found a transmission for cheap, and im thinking a new transmission should simply solve the problem. Any advice?

I had a similiar problem with my 97 Sl2 accept that I was obsessed with that fact that I could squeel 3rd and there for did all the time. I threw the diff pin through my bell housing and broke my fifth gear syncro.

Saturn transmissions are not the most durrable out there, if there is a hole u probably dont have fluid in there...aka....put a new one in

BTW you do NOT have to remove the engine to swap a tranny as the book says and the dealership might tell u, just drop the engine cradle and raise that car up high!!

sounds to me like you poped the diff pin.

the VSS(vehicle speed sensor) is just to the right of the differencal, it may have been damaged, disconnected, knocked out of its hole, or just can't read the sensor teeth anymore.

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29795

That makes a lot of sense, and hanks for the link to that trany swap post. It's good to hear how it actually goes instead of trying to read about it in the old chilton. Thanks again.

if the pin popped you would have heard a whine sound and you would be leaking massive amts of tranny fluid... trust me

Oh believe me, I'm not stupid enough to drive it. :) There's a good quarter sized holed in the transmission, and no fluid whatsoever. I don't recall a whining noise, but then again I was doing about 75 on the freeway during rush hour when this happened. I think I had the radio on too... But if I popped the diff pin, will a new tranny fix this? Forgive me, this is only the second FWD car I've owned. I did replace a tranny on a 91 camry, also a transaxle, and I remember it had a center shaft, with all the differential components therefore inside the transmission. Does Saturn use a similar setup? Will a new transmission have all the necessary components or will I have to buy a kit. Thanks again for all the advice.

you can replace just the whole diff.

spswebpage.com sells a nice one

new tranny probably cheaper

you can replace just the whole diff.

spswebpage.com sells a nice one

new tranny probably cheaper


the qualfe diff is nice if you have a extra $1800 and have a need for it.

but you would still need to replace the case and any other damaged components.

and yes, the transaxle contains the diff. i don't know of any transaxles that have a exteral diff.

a junkyard trans should have everything you need, but be careful not to damage the axle seals, and inspect the shifter cables retainer clips, they tend to wear out causing freeplay in the shifter