L100 Transmission hard shift question

[My1stSaturn]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and also to being a Saturn owner. I have a couple questions on a Saturn L100 (only 90k!) I purchased from a family friend.

The transmission shifts hard from 1st to 2nd when I accelerate moderately fast from a stop. It will also shift very late, 4.5k rpm late if I'm getting on the highway and then a bang or a slip. Typically anything over 3k rpm and I get a knock. Now, if I'm accelerating slowly, it shifts normally. So if I'm just driving around town, it's not even noticeable. Basically whenever I put the pedal down it'll spaz out.

It also seems a bit sluggish, albeit it could just be that it's a 4 cylinder.

SO what have I done and in the process of doing (related and unrelated):

-Changed the oil
-Cleaned the throttle body
-Added a good injector cleaner
-Changed the air filter
-Started to replace the pads and rotors
-Calipers are being replaced tomorrow, both have torn piston seals
-This weekend I planned on changing the transmission fluid (yay GM's user friendly transmissions)

I was eyeing the throttle position sensor as a possible culprit or the catalytic converter.

Any helpful insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[My1stSaturn]

Forgot to mention, I'm not pulling any codes.

[fdryer]

If the engine starts up and runs well without issues, gets up to operating temperatures, checking xmission oil level would be the next step.

[Russet]

Originally Posted by fdryer

If the engine starts up and runs well without issues, gets up to operating temperatures, checking xmission oil level would be the next step.

Sounds like what is said there low tranx fluid but if you fill it up to normal level and it still does the problem then one of two possible problems a bad solenoid is the cause if not then a tranx rebuild the the next stage and that will be costly. I had my Saturn and my parents solenoid replaced and mine is running smoothly and no more "Service Engine" all shifts engage firmly without any loose slams.

[My1stSaturn]

Well I spent the afternoon draining and refilling the transmission along with replacing the calipers. From my understanding the transmission takes 7 quarts if your just dropping the pan. Which is what I did, and then refilled it with exactly 7 quarts. Let it warm up for a good 15-20min, the temperature gauge never got to the middle, close enough I figured. When I opened the screw, it spewed maybe .5-1 quart back out which didn't make sense to me.

I've actually only driven this car maybe 5 times. Come to think of it, I don't think any of times the temperature gauge was in the middle. The antifreeze looks good. But I guess the t-stat could be stuck partially open.

I did take it for a spin after the fluid change. I stomped on the gas a few times and it seems to be better. I'm crossing my fingers. I had to bring it back due to my poor brake bleeding job.

I thought about the solenoids as well. I have no interest in tearing into that this weekend. Hopefully the fluid fixed it.

Btw, I will be building wood ramps. Jacking up all 4 wheels is a pain in the butt. Not to mention praying it doesn't fall on you...

[fdryer]

Temperature gauge needles on Saturns never hover over the 1/2 mark. For whatever reason, needles are closer to 3/8ths, between the 1/4 and 1/2 mark. To know exactly what coolant temperature is would be connecting a reader to display temps as seen by the engine computer, 185F-195F.

[My1stSaturn]

That makes sense then. I checked it with my scanner before checking the fluid level, it was reading 190 at like you said the 3/8 mark. My other car usually runs 200-210, where I got confused.

I took it for a spin again today and I'm still getting some clunking. It's not as bad, but it's still there. I plan on driving it to work for the next week and seeing if it progressively gets better. I just found out today that the car sat for literally a year without being started. That was probably 2 years ago and the problems started after that.

We'll see and I'll post my findings. Thanks for the help!