1999 Saturn SC2 Lost reverse

Tiny
JIM BOLEK
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 SATURN SC2
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
My grandsons 99 Saturn suddenly lost reverse. All the other gears work OK. He needs it to travel back and forth to ROTC "Boot" camp this summer so I'm trying to help. It gives the following codes: PO-732, 341, 133, and 340. I'm on a fixed income with 13 grandkids so I'm trying to decide if it's worth trying to fix. We just had a "used" trans put in 2 mos ago for over $1000.00 so we're already in pretty deep. The shop said it may cost big bucks just to diagnose let alone repair. Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks
Saturday, April 24th, 2010 AT 6:21 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
First of all thank u so much for ur donation. The only code that concerns ur transmission is the p0732 which is 2nd gear incorrect ratio reverse doesn't have a clutch pack of it's own so it uses 2nd gear clutch pack. So no reverse and that code go together sometimes. So how bad is the loss of reverse none at all or can u rev it up and make it start to engauge reverse?What ur and model did the transmission come from?The other codes we will adress after we take care of this transmission problem. Let me know.
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Saturday, April 24th, 2010 AT 9:26 PM
Tiny
JIM BOLEK
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  • 3 POSTS
Thanks for your quick response. Sorry, I don't know exactly what transmission was put in my grandsons car. They implied it was an exact replacement. Can I identify it further by finding an identifying plate somewhere? When I put it in reverse it's like it is in neutral. I will admit that I never really reved it up very much in reverse to see if it would engage but I will. Someone recommended trying a transmission additive but I felt it may be too soon to take that step (don't want to mess it up more by doing the wrong thing). I again appreciate your continued follow up. Jim (Gramps)
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Saturday, April 24th, 2010 AT 10:21 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Please dont put any additives in ur transmission it wont help the problem u have. Where ur transmission and engine come together at the edge of them by the coil pack there are vin numbers there can u please get those for me. Also did u try reving it to see if it went into reverse?Heres the possibiltys I think is wrong with ur grandsons car.#1 loose input shaft nut.#2 bad valve body.#3 leaking 2nd gear piston. Let me know the numbers and if it backs up when rev it up.
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Sunday, April 25th, 2010 AT 12:12 PM
Tiny
JIM BOLEK
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Hi again, I will avoid putting in additive. It never sounded like a good idea. I tried reving the engine in reverse today and guess what, it did engage. I did'nt go too far or too fast because I chickened out. My grandson was not home at the time (he lives elsewhere) so I was unable to get the trans VIN today (too old to crawl under) but I left him your instructions on how to locate it; if it ever stops raining in NE ohio. Is the reving test you asked for a good sign? I will get you the additional info you requested ASAP. Thanks Jim
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Sunday, April 25th, 2010 AT 7:07 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/416332_1999_sc2_transmission_side_cover_1.jpg


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/416332_1999_sc2_1st_gear_1.jpg


going into reverse is always good.ok heres my take on ur transmission issue thus far the first thing i would do if i was trouble shooting the car is take off the side cover diagram number 29 and see if input nut was loose diagram number 51 but to do so u have to hold diagram number 52 1st gear clutch housing.theres a special tool but its expensive u could probabley use a nylon strap wrench i always the special tool.its tourqed to 110 ft lbs pretty tight.and u need a 24mm 12 point socket thin walled 1/2" drive for the tourqe wrench.for u too loose reverse that nut would have to be pretty loose so when the cover came off u could be able to grab that 1st gear clutch housing and move it in and out if that was the problem.u would have drain the fluid get a side cover gasket and input shaft nut for parts to start with.and weather or not that nut is loose i would still start with that because theres really no to tell for sure with visually checking it.then if that was good i would suspect low pressure in the transmission which i dont think thats the case because if it was u would have more gear codes.i belive its ethier that nut or a bad 2nd gear clutch piston which isnt very common.so let me ask u this is u or ur grandson up for a job like this?me myself its a piece of cake even if the transmission had to come out and be torn down iam factory trained saturn tech have had tons of these transmissions apart and diagnosed.but i have know idea the skill level of u or ur son and iam not doing the job ur just working from my words.i will tell u this a funny store i taught a blind man how to put on spike spiders once.there like plastic chains for saturns real popular in snow country and to answer ur next question no he didnt drive the car in his wife did lol.he was just a real stuborn had to do it himself kind of guy.let me know.also get me those vins.
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Sunday, April 25th, 2010 AT 11:41 PM

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