Transmission Problems?

I would suggest having your fuel pressure tested at your local auto repair shop. If its within specs and your fuel filter is clear then you can elliminate the fuel as a problem. What they can also test for you is the correct voltage getting to your fuel pump with it in park and the ignition key turned on. These would be simple and least expensive compared to replaceing your transmission. I hope this helps!

Check your transmission fluid level. It was very common for maintenance techs on those Saturns to mistakenly drain the transmission, rather than the engine, when doing an oil change. The reason for that is a mix of inexperience, as well as ,when you are under that car and looking up at the engine and transmission, your transmission takes a filter that looks exactly like an oil filter. I have seen many many general service techs see the filter on the transmission side and assume that is the engine, and pull the drainplug on the transmission. The oil filter is actually hidden above the drive axle, and is rather small. It is most likely, someone pulled the wrong drainplug, and rather than fess up, they put the plug back in and sent you on your way. If this is not the case, AAMCO starts at about 1783.00 for a base overhaul, and from there, depends on what hard parts have to be replaced. Usually ends up around 2500.00 with a 3 year/50k warranty. I would check the transmission fluid level before driving it, and also call the shop that changed your oil. I think your problem will be fixed with a few quarts of transmission fluid.

I don't see anything in your comments that points at the transmission other than for some reason you got that in your head. Get your fuel filter changed and ask the mechanic if you can watch him do it. The fuel filter is cheap but you are going to pay for a minimum one hour shop time $50 - $70.

As for the fuel gauge, the only thing wrong is you expecting it to work with a couple gallons in the tank. They are set to have a couple gallons left when it reads near empty. That's when you sucked up a bunch of crap, plugged the filter and killed the engine. Transmissions don't like dead engines when they are in gear, so they start talking.

I say ask to watch the fuel filter change because after this you can do it yourself. Lesson 1: Watch how the wrenches are applied so the fuel line is not twisted. Lesson 2: Watch how the mechanic handles the spillage of gas when it is removed. Lesson 3: Ask the mechanic to show you all the crap you sucked up driving on empty.

From what you described (which was terrible by the way) it doesn't sound like the transmission is at fault. After thinking about this for a couple of minutes, I've come to the conclusion that it could be your torque converter or you have to run several test.

Have you ever replaced the filter in the transmission? The transmission filter could prevent proper flow of the fluid throughout the gear box.

Have you checked the fluid level in the transmission. If there is insufficient fluid you could be overheating the transmission. More importantly you are starving the torque converter of fluid. It will eventually ruin the gears inside the torque converter which sounds like what happened. The purpose of the torque converter is to shift the transmission into/out of "N". If the torque converter has no fluid, it will start to grind the gears because there isn't enough fluid to keep them lubricated. When you stop, the torque converter cannot shift to "N" and your engine cannot react fast enough so it stalls. By this time, the gears inside the torque converter are hot and will stall the engine until they cool down.

turn the key on but leave the engine off. listen for the fuel pump. cycle the key as this feature only runs the pump for a few seconds. it sounds like you run around with low gas alot. this burns up fuel pumps. they use fuel for cooling. this is assuming you can crank the engine but it wont start. if you cant hear it go under the car and listen at the gas tank while someone else does the same. if you hear a small buzz the pump is running. if you dont hear it, go under the hood and look on the fuel rail for a valve. it will have a cap and when you take the cap off you will see a larger version of a valve stem on a tire. press the center while someone cylces the key every 5 seconds or so. if you see fuel thats not you issue. if the pump is running and you dont see fuel. think filter. if you see fuel and it wont start. get a spark tester for 3 dollars from the parts store and check your spark. if you dont have spark look into your coil. if you do then your probably out of your diagnostic capability and i would recommend dropping the dime and taking it to a shop. or scrap metal is high right now.

With a bad transmission you should still be able to crank and start the car. (or hear horrible noises while trying)

Sounds like You've got a fuel problem. Something in the system dirty or clogged. Maybe a bad fuel pump. Check for the proper pressure and volume getting to the engine.

The problem is your gas gauge. You let it get low too often, and when it gets low it picks up the crap at the bottom of the gas tank and sends it through where it gets caught in the fuel filter. Change the filter and it should be good for a while but you have to start keeping more gas in it.

Yea I will have to agree with the others, get your fuel system checked out. Personally, I think it would be of a greater investment to put some money into a "working" used car instead of your 89. Not to be a downer, but its a rule of life that everything must die. Put money into something that works, not something that is going to last another few years (maybe)

From what you wrote I don't think that you have any transmission problems. Sounds like you have engine problems that stem from a fuel issue. I would take it to a repair shop to find out what is wrong.

Your fuel filter could be clogged due to running it low on gas and all the gunk in the bottom of your tank cloggs it, or your fuel pump could be going out due to it having to work harder since there is less gas in the tank