Date: 2 Apr 2002 11:03:08 -0800 From: trippknightlynopsamail.com (Tripp Knightly) Subject: Reverse shifting problems on 95 900S 5-speed - anybody get this repaired?
I have a 95 900S 5-speed 2.3 liter engine that has in the last 6 months had a new clutch cable and clutch installed (65k miles; I know that's low). Since those repairs, we've had persistent problems getting the car into reverse. It will either go into the slot and not engage or it will pop out softly. A lesser issue is shifting is not as smooth as it once was. I can only imagine that the clutch repairs have led to new issues due to interface between old and new parts / systems. As workaround, I've seen suggestions of putting the car into 1st or 3rd before engaging reverse; this works marginally if at all. The repair suggested to me thus far by a mechanic that I trust (and Saab corporate apparently recommends) is that the transmission essentially needs a rebuild and that rebuild is effectively an upgrade to a more-current transmission since the "older" parts are not even available anymore. $1,200 at least. Has anybody on this group had this problem (or know about it firsthand)? What did you have done? Was it successful? Perfectly successful or were there still lingering problems? Thanks for any info!, - TK