Saturn SL2 Car is hard to shift Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(146)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(146)

Car is hard to shift Inspection Service

How much does a Car is hard to shift Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Saturn SL2 Car is hard to shift Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1998 Saturn SL2L4-1.9LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1992 Saturn SL2L4-1.9LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1995 Saturn SL2L4-1.9LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1994 Saturn SL2L4-1.9LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1996 Saturn SL2L4-1.9LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1991 Saturn SL2L4-1.9LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
2001 Saturn SL2L4-1.9LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1993 Saturn SL2L4-1.9LService typeCar is hard to shift InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Saturn SL2 Car is hard to shift Inspection prices

A car that is shifting hard can be very unpleasant to drive. Regardless of whether it is an automatic or a manual, a transmission that is not shifting correctly can cause serious problems out on the road and under the hood.

A car that refuses to shift or go into gear easily is trying to tell you something is wrong and in most cases the culprit is the clutch or transmission. Transmissions are very complicated and have many moving parts, ignoring a hard to shift issue can quickly spiral into a very expensive transmission repair.

How this system works:

Automatic transmissions use a planetary system of gears that transfers power using different gear ratios. A planetary gear set has a central gear, known as the sun gear, an outer ring that has internal gear teeth which is called the ring gear and two or three other gears which are called planet gears and allow the gear ratio to change as the vehicle accelerates.

The vehicle drive train is coupled to a torque converter that acts like a clutch between the transmission and drivetrain. The transmission changes gears as the vehicle accelerates or slows downs.

In a manual transmission, a flywheel is attached to the engine crankshaft and spins with it. A clutch disk is located between the pressure plate and the flywheel, which is held against the flywheel due to pressure from the pressure plate. When the clutch is engaged the flywheel spins the clutch plate and the transmission, moving the car. When the clutch is depressed, the pressure plate stops applying pressure to the clutch disk allowing the gear to be changed without damaging the transmission.

Most modern cars with a manual transmission have 5 or 6 gears.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • Transmission Fluid Leak: Transmissions are a sealed system so leaking fluid indicates a serious problem. Leaks can occur in the pan gasket as well as other areas of the transmission. Transmission fluid is bright red or brown, as it gets older. If there is fluid under the car it should be inspected immediately. Transmission fluid is essential for the proper operation of the transmission and low fluid levels due to a leak can cause the transmission to basically self-destruct, which will result in a very expensive repair.

  • Failing Transmission Solenoids: Transmission Solenoids control the flow of transmission fluid around the transmission. Trouble shifting is a common indicator that the solenoids are failing.

  • Dirty or Contaminated Transmission Fluid: Transmission fluid gets dirty and contaminated over time and must be replaced. Difficulty in shifting can indicate that it is time to change the fluid. Transmission fluid should be flushed and replace roughly every 100,000 miles.

  • Failing Transmission: Over time, especially as a vehicle goes over the 100,000 mile mark, parts and gears inside the transmission simply wear out. This process can be dramatically accelerated if the car is driven with low levels of transmission fluid. The transmission will have to be rebuilt or replaced which is a very expensive repair. Symptoms of a failing transmission include hard shifting, humming, clunking or grinding.

  • Bad Shifter Cable: Some vehicles use a cable to link the shifter handle to the transmission. Typically an automatic transmission will have one cable while a manual transmission will have two. Over time the cable can stretch or break. A stretched cable can make the vehicle hard to shift into gear and the indictor needle may not line up with the gear the vehicle is actually in.

  • Worn Out Clutch: Over time a clutch will wear out. The lifespan of a clutch can vary depending on the how the car is driven. Symptoms of a failing clutch not only include hard shifting but also a spongy feel to the clutch and a possible burning smell.

What to expect:

A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the source and cause of the Car is hard to shift issue, ​and will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

A mechanic will inspect your car's transmission and other important components. This will include your transmission fluid for leaks and contamination, failing solenoids, shifter cable and clutch. This will allow your mechanic to provide you with an accurate diagnosis of your hard shifting transmission.

How important is this service?

Transmission repairs can range from a simple and inexpensive adjustment to a major rebuild that can be very expensive. A car that is hard to shift is signaling that something is malfunctioning in the transmission or clutch and ignoring the problem will most likely lead to further damage, which can dramatically increase the cost of the repair.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Saturn mechanics

Real customer reviews from Saturn owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(146)

Rating Summary
134
8
1
2
1
134
8
1
2
1

Cody

8 years of experience
99 reviews
Cody
8 years of experience
Saturn SL2 L4-1.9L - Car is hard to shift - Arlington, Texas
Very professional and polite!

Jeff

33 years of experience
441 reviews
Jeff
33 years of experience
Saturn SL2 L4-1.9L - Car is hard to shift - Rancho Cordova, California
Outstanding

James

31 years of experience
694 reviews
James
31 years of experience
Saturn SL2 L4-1.9L - Coolant Reservoir - Anaheim, California
professional polite and knowledgeable all the good qualities James has them!

Dustin

13 years of experience
41 reviews
Dustin
13 years of experience
Saturn SL2 L4-1.9L - Car is not starting - Clute, Texas
Diagnosed the problem and answered all my questions. Very nice and easy going. Highly recommended!

Excellent Rating

(146)

Rating Summary
134
8
1
2
1
134
8
1
2
1
Number of Saturn SL2 services completed
1606+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Saturn MECHANICS
700+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

Disabled Driver Laws and Permits in Arizona
Each Each state has its own rules for what you must do to receive disabled driver status. The following are some of the qualifications you must possess in the state of Arizona to receive a disabled driver placard or license...
P2177 OBD-II Trouble Code: System Too Lean Off Idle Bank 1
P2177 code definition P2177 is a general OBD-II diagnostic trouble code indicating a fault with the bank 1 too lean. This code...
P0392 OBD-II Trouble Code: Camshaft Position Sensor "B" Circuit Low (Bank 2)
Trouble code P0392 means there is incorrect voltage or waveform from the camshaft position sensor circuit in engine bank 2.

Gauges not working

Hello. If only your tachometer and speedometer aren't working, the problem is probably with the instrument cluster itself. This is because these two gauges use completely different inputs. The speedometer gets its signal from the vehicle speed sensor (VSS), whereas...

What kind of oil change do I need?

Hi there, thanks for writing in. I'd be happy to offer some insight about these services for you. It's usually a matter of personal preference and driving style. Synthetic oil is designed primarily for high mileage and high performance engines...

should i use full synthetic oil

You should use the oil as recommended in the owner's manual. If the owner's manual recommends full synthetic, then that is the way to go. But In my experience, I haven't seen any benefit in terms of longer engine life...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com