1994 Saturn Sedan jerk/punch when ever shifting

[tjr19136]

I just bought a 1994 saturn sedan........When i first bought it the car was shaking real bad due to the need of a motor mount, I replaced the motor mount but now i notice transmission fluid is leaking slowly..........one day i thought the transmission went on me but it was only very low of fluids.

I just wanted to know if this is normal for this car to jerk/punch when shift gears.

[$!lv3rado]

Originally Posted by tjr19136

I just bought a 1994 saturn sedan........When i first bought it the car was shaking real bad due to the need of a motor mount, I replaced the motor mount but now i notice transmission fluid is leaking slowly..........one day i thought the transmission went on me but it was only very low of fluids.

I just wanted to know if this is normal for this car to jerk/punch when shift gears.

I've recently replaced my Top motor mount and it seems like I notice when the transmission shifts a bit more as well. There appears to be transmission fluid leaking or blowing out somewhere around my filter somewhere. I'm planning on changing the filter and fluid soon. I'm not sure if that will solve my problem but I know it couldn't hurt. It is kind of strange though how I never noticed what looks to be 'fresh' fluid around the trans. filter area before I replaced the mount though. I've checked the fluid several times and apparently I'm not losing a whole lot because I've only had to add very little. I wish I could be of more help but I'm not exactly sure what could be causing it.

[RC1488]

replacement of the mounts should have NO effect on the fluid levels of the transmission. unless you broke something or damaged the transmission somehow while operating, the fluid level should stay constant.

if your leaking enough fluid where you need to add some regularly then you have bigger problems than just a vibrating car

[denisond3]

I would make sure the tranny fluid leakage isnt from one of the 'quick disconnects' for the two hoses going to/from the transmission fluid cooler in the radiator. The fittings at the transmission end of those hoses have O-rings on them. They wouldnt be very hard to replace. (After you remove the air filter and its housing to have a look down there.) We had one of those fittings disconnect itself from the transmission suddenly. The car just wouldnt 'go'.
Result was no damage, just needing a new cooler hose and a few quarts of transmission fluid - and washing the engine bay to get rid of the pink oil on everything.
When you replace that 'dogbone' motor mount on the tranny, I think the disturbance/movement of those hoses could start leakage.
If the shifting seems to be more noticeable now, make sure the fluid level is not low, and think about loosening the bolts on that motor mount and retightening them. Its possible the motor mount got installed with the engine/transmission slightly 'tilted' instead of being 'centered' in the support range of the motor mount. When you loosen/retighten the bolts, you should have the car sitting on fairly level ground, and it should be in neutral.
If the jerking/punching is severe, do a search in this forum using the word 'slam'.