94 SL2 Transmission

[dlmerlin]

About half the time when I start from a stop the 1st gear in my auto transmission doesn't work and it starts in 2nd gear and after 50 feet I hear and feel a CLANK, after which it drives ok but I just don't have 1st gear. The other half of the time 1st gear is there and everything is fine. Obviously its a serious transmission problem. I had the transmission serviced but that didn't help. Any thoughts or advice? How long I can expect it to last? I have 212K miles so I can't imagine it is worth replacing?

[sierrap615]

any 'slamming' into reverse or drive?

i don't know much of autos. i do know a common failure of saturn autos is the input shaft nut becoming loose( one cause is shifting in to drive from reverse while still rolling back). slamming into gear is a sign of this, but i have never of completey loosing frist gear. you should ask on the forum at saturnfans.com

[dlmerlin]

no slamming as you describe - only related to first/second gear

i'll check the site your reference
thanks

[Jed Rule]

Had my SL start out in 2nd only when hot and lost reverse also. Needed a rebuilt transmission valve body. $600 parts and labor. I'm usually pretty good at repairs but I was afraid to do this. A new unit was $600 from Saturn plus labor.