Shift Lock - Is there a second one?

[joeynovak]

Hey Guys,

So, I am busy finishing up my Mid-Engine SHO Powered Chevy LUV. And I have run into the first problem I havan't been able to find the answers to...

So, as I cut, clipped, and hammered away all the parts I didn't need. I disabled the brake shift lock on the shifter (on purpose). (It's an automatic). And, I thought, that since then, I have been able to shift the transmission to neutral, or park, whenever I wanted. However, now, all of the sudden, I can't shift it out of neutral. And here is the scary part... It isn't the shifter that is locked, it seems to be the transmission... When I try to shift it, I can move the shifter far enough to get the orange bar out of the clear space next to the N, and I can see the cable moving under the hood. But, I can't get it any further then that...

I towed the car in neutral on the rear wheels (which used to be the fronts, so the driven wheels) on the ground, for a total of maybee 40 miles. At a slow speed. I thought it still shifted after this, but maybe I was mistaken.

The car also got rained on once or twice with the hood off, I wonder if maybe the shift lever on the transmission has now rusted to a steel bushing or something on the transmission case.

Anyways, my question is, was I dreaming, and never able to shift the car without a foot on the brake? Is there some other shift lock other then the brake pedal one, in the transmission? Or is it likely just a little bit of rust that unhooking the cable, and beating on the lever a little will clear up? Or did I ruin the tranny during towing? (I don't think that is it).

Thanks guys,

Joey

P.S. Only things left are: Trans Fluid Coolers, Gas Pedal Linkage, Shift Linkage, Fuel Return Line, Charcoal Canister, Brake Vacuum Line, Fuel Tank Heat shield, Fuel Pump Wiring, Rad Fan Wiring, Truck Chassis Power, and Bleed the Brakes.

 

[rubydist]

As I recall, there are 2 locks - one that checks that your foot is on the brake, and one that checks that the ignition is 'on'. They both run to the shifter assembly, as I recall, so you should be able to disconnect them appropriately from that and then shift as you wish.

40 miles on the drive wheels w/ engine off is a really bad idea. I don't know how much of that the tranny will take, but it certainly doesn't like it.

 

[joeynovak]

Yeah, I am aware of the towing problems. I checked a few websites specific to towing, and for the SHO, they said it was ok for distances less then 50 miles, at 40 MPH. So that is what I did (It was a very long 30 miles). I would have rather flat beded it, but, budget constraints....

 

[SHO#7]

Disconnect the linkage and try to move the manual lever by hand. There is nothing inside the transmission to prevent from coming out of gear with or without any interlock.

Also, NEVER tow with the drive wheels on the ground. The planet gears, differential, etc are turning. Without the pump running. Even if you get it out of gear, you could have damaged the transmission.

5 miles is the rule. I would not even do that.

Mike

 

[joeynovak]

Forgive me, I am an optimist, and well, frankly, like to dispell rumors, and do my best to shut up people who use words like "NEVER", and "ALWAYS" because usualy they are wrong, granted, they are mostly right, but 90% truth, and 10% false is still false.

So, on some vehicles it is ****** to tow with the wheels on the ground, on some, it is fine. Saturns, are one vehicle which pose no problems. According to several RV enthusiast sites, you can tow a stock Saturn with an Automatic Transmission for thousands of miles at interstate speeds and it won't hurt it.

Jeeps are the worst, supposedly, one mile can destroy them.

So, all those things are spinning, but, what about the splash lubrication that still takes place? Please don't say things about doom and gloom unless there is really a reason.

 

[SHO#7]

The internals of a saturn transmission are built the same way as a manual transmission. They have actual gears on shafts and counter shafts. Same with honda.

As for the AX4S, that is not the case. I have built transmissions for the last 13 years. I hope you have not done damage. I by no way ment to make you feel that you did wrong. I just have seen the results of what you have done. Some are fine, some are not.

However, that being said. Go pop the cable off the selector arm. See if you can move it by hand.

Edit: Jeeps are the worst due to a bolt on overdrive section. And there is no splash lubrication inside the AX4S The pan and its contents have no impact on the transmission internals. The pump must pull fluid through the filter to get it on the other side of the casting.

Mike

 

[joeynovak]

SHO#7,

I appreciate your response. I had heard a rumor a long time ago, that Saturn had changed their auto's to computer controlled manual transmissions, I only heard it once in passing, and never found anything to back it up. Is that what they are doing? Honda too?

Joey

 

[SHO#7]

Saturn has always been built that way. Along with Honda. They are not exactly like manuals, just close. They still use clutch packs etc. I was just giving you a reason as to why they are able to be towed that way.

Good luck.

Mike