1997 Saturn SL1 transmission slipping

So when you say it slip's in reverse do you mean it delay's when going into reverse before it get's into reverse?Also do you have any code's?What color is the transmission fluid?

It sound's like a loose input shaft nut that's the first thing I would check. You would have to drain your transmission fluid and remove the transmission end cover. The big silver clutch pack under the cover is the first gear clutch pack and also the input shaft and the nut that need's to checked for looseness. That nut would be pretty loose to cause you to have to gas it to go into reverse.I don't think the second gear piston is leaking since you don't have a transmission code's.