Automatic saturn wont shift up to fifth gear anymore

If you have the five speed manual, almost certainly the fifth gear is an overdrive gear. Overdrive means that the gear ratio is less than 1:1, and in most 5 speeds, the fourth gear is 1:1, the fifth gear being less, such as 0.85:1 for instance. So yes, you probably have overdrive, it's just not called that in a standard transmission.

First off.. If you have a check engine light on, Find someone with an OBD2 READER or buy one yourself(very good tool to have) and that will give you the code(s) to your problem..

If not.. Check ALL your fuses..

If those are good and you DO NOT have a sealed tranny.. Check your fluid..

If all the above check out good.. It's gonna be 1 of 2 things..

1. Your overdrive is either turned off and/or damaged.. (Over drive on: uses all 4 gears/Over drive off: uses only 3 gears)

2. Your shift silonoid pack is damaged, which normally when this happens your car goes into a thing called "dummy mode" and keeps the tranny ONLY in 2nd gear..

Now assuming your car shifts into every other gear just fine.. And the fact that normally reverse is the first gear to go out.. I'm gonna say it's your overdrive or a relay that runs with your overdrive..

Let me know what happens or if you have anymore questions..


-Daniel
Proud Owner of the
sickest 97 eclipse.

sounds like the 5th gear is wering out

check shifter lever for adjustments

This is caused by some kind of electronic shift fault in the transmission electronic control system, it shifts to neutral to avoid further damage to the transmission. You must have the dealer look at this and use a live data scanner.

For Automatic transmission problem,click the link below:----Overdrive light in the dash blinks? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2012/01/overdrive-light-in-dash-blinks.html
--------- Automatic transmission troubleshooting:----

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/automatic-transmission-will-not-go-into.html

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Automatic transmission shift lever issues?-------

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/automatic-transmission-shift-lever-hard.html

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL? --

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-check-automatic-transmission.html

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/07/how-to-change-automatic-transmission.html

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Transmission fault light on car dash?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/transmission-fault-light-on-car-dash.html

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Transmission shifting problem?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/transmission-shifting-problem-on-toyota.html

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Transmission Slips out of 2nd gear?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/transmission-slips-out-of-2nd-gear.html

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OD light flashing and transmission fluid leaking?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/od-light-flashing-and-transmission.html

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Why Transmission fluid leaks near radiator?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/transmission-fluid-leaks-near-radiator.html

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Transmission fluid leaking?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/ford-windstar-transmission-fluid.html

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****** wont go in reverse?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/dodge-neon-wont-go-in-reverse.html

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Automatic transmission will not go into reverse?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/dodge-automatic-transmission-will-not.html

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Transmission is making buzzing noise?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/transmission-is-making-buzzing-noise.html

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This will help.

Thanks.

As a response to solution #1 these cars do have an overdrive while in D-4, mine was shifting in and out at 70 mph until it finally quit and the rpm is now 3100 at 70 mph insted of 2700. The car still shifts 4 full times just not the fifth-OD. I still can't find out what fixes this problem either.

Check the transmission governor could also be a dirty or plugged filter

either repair or replace the transmission...sounds like the sensor went out

Most likely the turning on and off might have trigered or burned out your relay switch located in the front of your engine. The overdrive button on your nissan was only ment to be used sporadically and not as a stick vehicle ( According to your expression ). You can purchase this relay in your nearest nissan dealer. Good luck.