'98 Saturn SL1 (manual) shifting problem...

In case you missed it the car is a 1998 SATURN SL1, 5 speed manual.
When i was backing out of a parking space to leave, it went into reverse (as usual) but when I tried to shift out into first the stick became very loose and would not shift.

I was still pushing in the clutch, and even though the stick would move between 5th and reverse (it wouldnt move left at all, and like i said, it was very loose... like it had slipped out of ... whatever it is it could slip out of :rofl:), it was still in reverse ( the reverse lights were on ).

Sometimes on occasion i would notice that it would have trouble going into reverse; i would put it into reverse but would never really hear that "click" kind of sound and it would remain in nuetral. nothing like this had ever happened before though. Also sometimes i would have difficulty shifting into first, second and reverse, but it would always go into gear.

I had been told it could possibly be the clutch, transmission, or a linkage problem. Is there any way I (not a very auto-saavy person) could narrow the problem down? Is there any possibility this could be a cheap(ish) fix? suggestions? I am completely lost without my only mode of transportation...

Sorry for double posting, but i already edited my original post and ive been calling everyone i know and got some advice and...

i got the car to shift properly again. first, second, (still a little difficult to shift into these, i have to apply a decent amount of force... nothing crazy though), third fourth and fifth are fine... but when i shift into reverse it will have difficulty going into reverse and get stuck in reverse. When it gets stuck in reverse, the shifter will be loose like it was, but after i play around with it in the reverse area it will pick up and be able to shift again.

someone suggested that there is a nut that is below the boot of my stick that may need to be tightened, but i was unable to lift the boot off (i didnt want to force it, so i left it) and was not able to try adjusting the supposed nut.

The car will shift properly, but the same problem remains. Thanks in advance!:grinyes:

Broken shifter bushing most likely. You need to remove the center console up over the shifterand boot. The shifter and boot are part of an assembly and do NOT separate. From here you can see the cables attached to the shifter and determine if the bushing is bad.

New bushings can be found on ebay for 5 bucks or so. Also ive read that toyota wiper bushings work also that are found at autozone.

Also, make sure the shifter cables are properly attached to the tranny itself. They can be seen between the engine/tranny and firewall viewed from the driver side. They should NOT be loose or be able to be moved with your hand.

Good luck!

does the center console just "lift up"? it seems it would be more difficult than that. no screws?

Thanks.

One more thing to check.

Under the brake master cylinder on the drive side there is a red dipstick. Remove this and make sure you have tranny fluid in the tranny. Post your results asap. Do this FIRST before removing the console to look at the shifter. Should take all of 3 minutes.

does the center console just "lift up"? it seems it would be more difficult than that. no screws?

Thanks.

There are screws. There are two under a tab in the rear cup holder. Then there are two in the front on top, however they are hidden under the radio trim. Remove the radio trim first (2 screws, pushpins on either side, then unplug you defroster(squeeze and pull)). Youll see the two screws holding the console on after the trim is removed

i tried and for the life of me couldn't find the red dipstick for the tranny fluid. i checked the manual, saw the picture ( it shows the red dipstick about 4 inches from the engine oil dipstick, which is overly obvious ), and still couldn't find it. would there not be a dipstick in there and plug it with a cap or something?

i couldnt find a clearer diagram aside from whats in the manual and that only shows the top of the dipstick.

i tried and for the life of me couldn't find the red dipstick for the tranny fluid. i checked the manual, saw the picture ( it shows the red dipstick about 4 inches from the engine oil dipstick, which is overly obvious ), and still couldn't find it. would there not be a dipstick in there and plug it with a cap or something?

i couldnt find a clearer diagram aside from whats in the manual and that only shows the top of the dipstick.

The picture your looking at is for an AUTO.

Stand on the driver side of the car and look over behind the tranny (if the trunk is called the rear) and under the brake cylinder resiviour (the top of the resiviour has a black cap on it saying FLUID) you will see a red dipstick. Its about 5 inches under the resiviour. A flashlight is VERY useful

FOUND IT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrbzSnUAgyk

ah yes, news to me. i thought that might have been it but it didnt look like the one in the manual so i didnt go tryin to yank things out.

the trans fluid is within the limits, more on the maximum side (i checked it after running it for a bit).

but i also tried playing around with the gears a little bit, not forcing anything, and found it does the same "stuck" thing in fourth as well. the next step would be to lift the center console and check the shifter bushing?
i dont think i will be able to do it tonight, everything i do is by flashlight in hand right now :)

Well thats good news. If there was no fluid, you wouldnt have to worry about the shifter as you would need a new tranny instead.

Remove the console and check the cables. The shifter should shift with no issues when the car is off. If it shift fine with the car off, but hard when the car is on; you may have a worn pressure plate or a hydrualic problem with the clutch.

However usually its the shifter bushing. So check that first since its easy and a simple fix.

Ill check back in the AM. Good luck!

I will take the console out in the morning, and check if the cable is loose around the bushing. Is there anything else i should check while im in there?

also, ive been reading on some replacements and while cheaper is better, would something like this product be more useful?
http://www.saturnfans.com/classifieds/showproduct.php/product/93/cat/all

(if its not necessary, can i pick up a cheapo one from kragen or somethin?)
thanks again, very helpful indeed.

Not to sure, as ive never used that one. You could try it I suppose

i have removed the center console and found the bushing broken in half on the floor... obviously the problem. i also moved the shifter around to see exactly what was happening and it all makes sense. first im going to try those windshield washers, i will post results.

update:
i temporarily wrapped the "O" part of the cable around the knob part of the shifter with electrical tape. it should work till i can get a bushing.

Zip ties are good also :)