Saturn 1996 SC2 5 speed driverside shifter cable stuck not broken but wont move

VUE will not move - SaturnFans.com Forums

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Jan 8, 2010 - 11 posts - ‎9 authors
The owner says it will not move and it is the transmission that needs to be replaced. Itwill start and run but when in gear it will not move. Is this a ... 99 SL1 Manual won't go into gear
6 posts
May 12, 2009
Car won't shift into drive...
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Nov 12, 2007
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Saturn Vue Transmission Problems - Car Forums at Edmunds.com

forums.edmunds.com > Saturn > Saturn VUE

Jan 26, 2013 - 30 posts - ‎17 authors
Learn more about Saturn VUE at the Edmunds.com Car Forums! ... miles and transmission is stuck i can feel it go into reverse and move ,but not for .... within a few weeks it started popping out of 3rd gear and makes a grinding noice, .... this bolt until I already had done so, now, it will not shift from 2nd to 3rd. More results from forums.edmunds.com

My first thought is that you have a broken shift cable. Your car has a transversely mounted engine and transmission. The transmission is operated by 2 cables that run from the shifter to the back of the transmission. A broken cable, or one that has come loose will prevent the transmission from shifting gears. Your problem is either at the transmission or under the console at the shifter. The first thing I would tell you to do is have one person be under the car (with the car off) while you or someone else move the shifter around. Look for movement at the transmission side of the linkage ( 2 levers located at the rear divers side of the engine) If there is no movement, you need to remove the console and gain access to where the cables attach to the shifter itself. Most likely you have a failed cable.

pull out the cup holder just a head of the shifter you will find the shift cables at the shifter end see if they are poped off there

I was curious never had a standard shift with your problem. Found a guy which had similar problems but only fifth gear would work. He put some final notes which I will post maybe it will help. His problem was the cable broke so he was not really shifting into gear.(96 Saturn)
1. If you are having the problem, first visually check the cables under the hood - make sure they are still connected
2. Then check the cables visually, inside the engine compartment. The lower cable is hard to see
3. Next thing to check would be where the cables connect to the shifter. You'll need to remove the center console. 2 screws in the back of the console, two at the front behind the fuse panel door, and in the same place on the drivers side. Popout and disconnect the power window switch assm. Pop out the cup holders, twist out the little light. Disconnect the cigarette lighter. The shifter **** is a friction fit - pull up but watch out - mine let loose with a lot of force - watch you head.
Check the cables to make sure they are still connected to shifter. A common problem reported often (not my problem), is the cable bushing breaking. The end of the cable has a plastic ring. In the ring is a bushing that snaps over a piece on the shifter. If the busing breaks, it needs to be replaced. Google it, there is a lot of information on it and after market parts to fix it.

If, you are unlucky like I was, and your cable is broken, you'll need to replace it

take the console out and look under the shifter, if the shifter cables are disconnected from the shifter go to a parts store or ebay and get yourself a Saturn shifter bushing repair kit. happens all the time to S Saturns and maybe the Ls look on youtube for instructions to remove console and put on the bushing kit.

if the shifter cables are still connected you may have to be looking around for a lower mileage used transmission. 96-98 saturn will fit so long as the donor car has the same head, being DOHC or SOHC. so if you have an SL1 you can use a transmission out of another SL1, or an SC1, or an SW1. do not mix a 2 with a 1, bad mojo.

Hi I am stuck in 2nd too.But I have a Probe 1989 GT and shifter will not move. I am told I need to tap/hit some rods in the tranny, after I remove about 10 bolts on the side of the tranny, and this would unstick it. Could work for yours too. I did see someone ask "what if the shifter moves? then its more of the shift gates, and is easy to fix. I not see answer to how, tho.

remove the console and take a look at the shifter bushings. these connect the bottom of the shifter to the cables. it is common for them to fail, they sell bushing repair kits on eBay and some parts stores.
if that is good however, then you have to look at the other end of the cable and make sure that movement of the shifter is causing the linkage to move on the transmission, if not then you are going to need a new cable set. these are much cheaper at parts stores than through a GM dealer.

take a search through saturn repair videos on youtube for particulars on the console removal and shifter cable replacement. there are lots of them there.

From you're description it sounds like a shift cable failed or got
disconnected or there may be a problem in the shift control housing on the transmission. Have somone move the shifter around while you watch the shift control housing below the battery tray to see if the cable is connected and moving if it's
connected but little or no movement, remove the shift boot and
and check that end of the cable linkage. Hope this helps.

well it got stuck originally right??might be time for a rebuild the cable does need the right amount of tension to push and pull,the linkage may need proper adjusting as well

Check the cable clips at the trans. Sometimes these clips come out and won't shift. Horseshoe clips that hold the cable housing.