2000 saturn hard shift

[temperingloser]

2000 saturn s series has a hard shift reverse and every gear watched it as it was going in reverse and everything moved under the hood (exhaust engine everything). I was thinking a motor mount was bad but not sure. Can anyone help me with this?

[Ruley73]

Originally Posted by temperingloser

2000 saturn s series has a hard shift reverse and every gear watched it as it was going in reverse and everything moved under the hood (exhaust engine everything). I was thinking a motor mount was bad but not sure. Can anyone help me with this?

The main engine mount to check is usually referred to as the "Torque Axis Mount" or TAM for short. This is the mount that attaches to the timing cover on the passenger side of the engine. There are two designs that are usually referred to as the solid and the frowny design. The frowny mount is pictured below.

Selection_017.jpg
This is the one you DON'T want. As you can see, it has a gap in the rubber in the shape of a frown - thus the nickname "frowny".

Do NOT use an Anchor branded mount - it is the bad frowny design. DEA is the only company that makes the solid design mount. You can order it online from RockAuto. The same DEA mount is also sold under the Duralast brand from AutoZone, but check the box before you buy it because some the frowny mounts are still on the shelves at AutoZone. It currently costs ~$35.

It will come with 3 studs. These only need to be replaced if a frowny mount is the design you remove. If you do end up replacing them, make sure to use red threadlocker on the studs that go into the timing cover and only torque them to ~12 ft-lbs. then torque the nuts to 37 ft-lbs when installing the new mount.

You will need to support the engine to replace this mount.

This would also be a good time to check the two dogbone mounts. One is just below the crankshaft pulley. It is visible if you remove the plastic splash shield on the passenger side. The other one is below the battery tray and connects to the transmission You'll probably need to remove the air intake to inspect it.

Good luck.

[temperingloser]

Thanks for that info I will check them as soon as I get a day off

[temperingloser]

checked the dog bone mounts as it was shifted from reverse to drive several times and there was was alot of movement in these 2 so tommorrow I plan on replacing them right after work just wondering if anyone new if there was a special trick to this

[temperingloser]

After replacing the motor mounts it still slams in reverse and shifts kinda hard in the forward gears. also I noticed that when in reverse it will move a little way backwards then act like something is in a bind and I never experienced this before not sure what might be causing this if anyone can help me diagnose this problem it will be greatly appreciated

[Cat Fuzz]

Saturn transmission valve bodies are known for failing. You might need a new valve body. Google, "reverse slam Saturn" and you should find out all sorts of info.

[drew300]

Is this a manual or auto box?
My manual became hard to shift. I changed the trans oil. Fixed. I think maybe it had some condensation in it.

[temperingloser]

Well it is an auto tranny and I ordered a valve body yesterday and today I was looking around at the car and noticed the trs lp fuse was blown so I replaced it and it blew again read a little bit and assume the valve body and solenoids will possibly fix this but I am not sure has anyone had this problem before I really dont want to replace the valve body and get it back together to only find some more problems

Thanks
Nathan

[Cat Fuzz]

That is probably your problem. Next trick is finding why the fuse keeps blowing. Something is shorted. You may need to pull the pan off the top of the trans and check the solenoids with an ohm meter. That's not an expert opinion, just an educated guess.

[temperingloser]

after looking into this a little more I ohmed the line pressure solenoid through the top of the transmission connector and it ohmed around 12.0 something and the other ohmed around 5 so I suspect the solenoid may be bad valve body should be here soon and I will replace it

[temperingloser]

Today I replaced the valve body and it took care of almost everything besides the reverse problem which I assumed might have been the rusted brake drums because it had been sitting awhile. I can put it in reverse now and there is a delay then a clunk then I go about 5 feet and it wont move unless I gun it and sometimes not even then. Does anyone think this might be a defective valve body? Before I had an immediate clunk when shifting to reverse and would only go a few feet before it didnt want to move any help would be appreciated

[temperingloser]

I can shift from drive to reverse several times and sometimes reverse will work and sometimes it wont I suspect a defective valve body but I am not sure dont want to spend another 100 plus to find out can anyone help