Hate to follow another tranny question, wouldnt want to give anyway wrong ideas about Saturns. I have well over 250,000 miles on my 2000LS, automatic, six cylinder.
I recently got new tires at my local garage and mentioned the service light was coming on. He did a check and said it was the coolant sensor. I said order the part and I'll come back. So i did and the light came back that night.
I have a long commute into Mahattan (hence the mileage) and that's enough to wreck any car. When the light returned, i noticed what I would call a bucking (or a thud) in the transmission. This came after a long drive at like 65-70. I hit the sidestreets and after a while the light comes on and a thhe bucking starts. The tranny had been somewhat rough at times recently but now a light went off in my head. These two are related.
I drop off the car at night with this guy so i left a note explaining that i thought it might be related. The next day he didn't mention the note, just said the car was ready and that the codes had been cleared out. I didn't mention the note either. This is the only service station within walking distance of my house and that is a big help.
That night, tonight, same thing. After a long a drive, when I hit the side streets, it starts to thump and the light comes on. The thump is not horrendous but i fear it will get worse. Meanwhile I feel I paid like $150 for nothing.
So ... what make the tranny make a loud thud going from first to second (less noise after that), but only after having driven for a while, and with it the service light goes on? The problem is i cant duplicate this during the day time and mechanics don't want to take your word for anything. If I had a detailed theory, it might help. Also, perhaps a guess on what it would cost to fix. I cant put too much more money into this car but that's what i say every time i put too much money in it.
Thanks!