Matt

What are the signs of an automatic transmission going bad or going out?

DarkApollo

slipping. the tranny went out on my moms van, when it started the car would all of a sudden lose power and the engine would rev up.
you will feel like you have a boat anchor tied to your bumper even when the engine is reving up.
they engine may stall because the gears or the torque clutch will not disenguage after long drives in final gear.
the gear shifts will feel like jello, getting mushy like the transmition is in neutral.

Matt

Reason I was asking is because I was driving around town earlier for a while, just cruising and being real easy on the car. Then I head home on a straight streth and step on it when it shifted at 30 MPH it shifted a little hard. It only did it that one time though. I drove it another 10 or so mile getting on it, I figured if it's going to screw up it'll do it now. It shifed fine though. I know the saturn automatic transmissions remeber the driving patterns and shift accordingly. So was it just going from granny driving to steeping it that caused this? I'm going to disconnect the negative termianl tomorrw and reconnect, then give it a little bit hell. I practically baby this car so I don't see how the transmission could be srewing up. Am I just overreacting and there's nothing wrong? Is frequent down shifting a problem too? I've heard this before, not that mine is doing it.

DarkApollo

i just read this one over at XS
try to reset the PCM.
my fiancees car downshifts all the time. granted its when we are slowing down...
if it downshifts for no reason on flat road with out you pushing it to the floor, then your tranny is slipping.

Matt

Nope, it doesn't downshift for no reason. Like I said it was just the one time, it shifted a little rough on shifting. Nothing real hard and slamming, just a little harder than normal. I'm thinking it was just some sort of fluke, I hope it is.

BTW, anyone know how many stop and goes the saturn automatcis remember and shift accing to? I've heard it was 7 or 8. I know I've made 7 to 8 stop definately just grannying around. So mabe I just need to step on the gas more for a while to up the shift pattern.

DarkApollo

im pritty sure it sets itself from the very first time you drove it. like i said. try to reset the PCM and drive the pyss out of the car. this will set the pcm to think you are a nutjob and train it to shift later.

Matt

This may be a retarded question. I have an aftermarket alarm on my car, if I disconnect the negative teminal will it mess with the alarm at all, such as the remote transmitter programming?

DarkApollo

i doubt it. i believe that stuff is set with dipswitches.

amazinghl

How well is your alternator? The tranny is shift electrically, so, if there isn't enough electrcity , they car WILL shift hard.

I know, it did that to me before my alternator died.

__________________
a dirty loving sl2

Matt

I've been driving the car around, it is ok.