How to Fix Saturn Vue Hard to Shift - Rough Shifting - Manual / Standard Transmission - Lube Cables

How to fix a shifter that is hard to shift in Saturn Vue with a manual / standard transmission.
2005 Vue shown. 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2006 or 2007
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Good Times - Patrick Patrikios
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#Saturn #Vue #shift #diy
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How-to and Reviews

[@ValentinElizalde-vx1rx]

One of the best repair videos ive ever seen

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

I appreciate it! Glad it was helpful!

[@maxoklock4805]

I used to lube the cables and the shifter on an annual basis when I had my ‘03. Used spray Super Lube myself. Was a parts guy at the local Saturn retailer back then, and saw a few of them need cables from the shifting getting difficult. I also recommend changing the fluid in the hydraulics once a year, all that black mess is wear of the seals or the plastic cylinders. If the slave goes out it requires separating the engine & trans to replace it, also a weak point of an otherwise pretty nice shifting manual as far as GM stuff goes

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Awesome, thanks for the great information!

[@CuratedCars]

Thank you for the video, it helped solve a problem I hadn't encountered before, not many Saturn Vue manuals on the road still!

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Awesome! Good to know there are still a few of us out there!

[@josephtrunk3565]

Many thanks for the heads up on this my 05 Vue 5 speed manual shifter just got a lot harder to move tonight after driving 650 miles. I have the white lithium grease on board. I just need to spray it all over tomorrow and do what you did and let it sit for a while. Many thanks for sharing!

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

I hope you experience good results. Mine has been shifting great.

[@josephtrunk3565]

@@HowtoandReviewsOfficial I have given it five sprays of the white lithium grease, and I also noticed that my clutch reservoir was low, I put new clutch fluid in the reservoir, already noticing after this initial treatment, the shifter into gears is moving much smoother! I’m gonna give it a couple more hours and drown it again, as you did in the video, and then it’ll sit overnight, it’s already better, and it’ll be that much better soon. Thanks again, Sir! I’m at 281, 623 miles.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

@@josephtrunk3565 that’s great! I’m at about 211,000 miles. I don’t put many miles on it these days.

[@seeburg10]

Thank ypu for this great video! I did exactly as you said and the shifting is much better. When people don't address hard shifting in the Vue they eventually break the cable clips on the shifter end. There are videos on how to fix that but better to do as you suggest and not break anything. The shift into first is still not perfectly smooth 100% of the time, but that must be partly a design flaw. In the owner's manual it says if the shift into first sticks, depress the clutch and shift into neutral and try again (I'm paraphrasing). I find it more effective to just throw the shifter to the right once while in neutral and try again. Also to make sure the shifter is hard left when shifting into first. Regardless, your trick worked and I plan to do it one a year as regular maintenance. Thanks again!

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Glad it helped! Mine is still shifting smoothly. I’m curious to see if it stays smooth through the winter. Doing this as annual maintenance sounds like a good idea.

[@michelobedhyppolite1008]

I'm about to replace my cable, cause the Black cable just bent in the end of the shifter adjuster, but thanks for the tip, I will do the same as you do before the replacement

[@imminent3178]

Great informative video. P.S. This is out of nowhere but I think your content has real value. The only (minor) annoyance is that your voiceover is slightly monotonous. I don't mean this an insult, just know that I would appreciate criticism (not asking for it) so I thought I'd share. Cheers.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Not at all insulting. That is constructive and I appreciate your input. Thanks!

[@hornofgabriel0723]

I liked your voice! You seem like a guy I would hang out with. Go harder!

[@electronicasolorio2988]

what a great video greetings

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Glad it was helpful!

[@neilfromclearwaterfl81]

Noticed that your clutch master cylinder is way past due for a flush of the brake fluid that's used for the hydraulics in that system. The cap on those instead of having a diaphragm like a brake master cylinder is vented to atmosphere allowing humidity to contaminate the brake fluid used for the clutch hydraulics. To get the longest life from the frightfully expensive to replace clutch slave cylinder and the clutch its best practice to use a vacuum bleeder like you'd use on your brakes to pull clean brake fluid through the system and completely flush out all the contamination on an annual basis. I've see these get so badly contaminated on the Saturn VUE's that algae starts forming in the system causing the slave cylinder to leak brake fluid on the clutch and the master cylinder to become completely clogged up by the algae leaving you stuck with a $2,000 to $2,500 repair bill if your not up to doing the work of replacing the contaminated clutch pack, clutch slave and clutch master cylinder yourself. Having the slave cylinder inside the bell housing like it is on the VUE turns what use to be a 15 to 30 minute job to replace a $10 to $20 clutch cable into a 10 to 16 hour job tearing half the car apart to separate the transmission from the engine to replace all the clutch system components so its really in your best interests to maintain a strict regimen of regularly scheduled clutch fluid flushes. The few minutes spent doing this on an regular basis can save you many thousands of dollars in maintenance over the life of the vehicle. In humid areas I've seen people too often having to replace clutches prematurely getting only 35,000 to 50,000 miles from a clutch instead of 100,000 or better due to clutch fluid contamination and failure. For lubricating the shift cables instead of White Lithium you might find that PBlaster Garage Door Lubricant does a better job since it can flow deeper inside the cable jacket. I've even used it on marine shift cables that were thought to be a lost cause and after one treatment they've stayed free and smooth for years even in a salt water environment. If you lightly crush one end of the plastic straw on the aerosol can into a DuckBill you can get the lube to penetrate more deeply into the cable jacket. Best!

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Thanks for sharing the information. Very much appreciated!

[@mikaiahjones5491]

hey, can you make a video on how to install a backup camera on a 2010 chevy impala please ?

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

I can’t guarantee it, but I just added it to my list of future videos. That would be a nice addition.

[@user-xf8le1iv9x]

My saturn vue 2004 become hard or impossible to shift after maybe 1 hours driving it's gonna work if repeat this process

[@angelapursley2811]

Will someone PLEASE tell me what the wire ring inside of as well as that white part (?) Is called. My wore ring snapped and I am having heck keeping it in the Groove of the white part and it's killing my poor 2006 . I need HELP PLEASE!!! Desperately need to know the parts names , where to find tem hiw to replace ad if anyone has any idea of coat to purchase and replace? I pray it isn't expensive and I can somehow do it on my own??? I'm honestly having a near mental breakdown woth this crap. I'm 53 and my eyes aren't like they used t be and this girl is just TIRED of fighting to drive my Lil Red Wagon..Thank you for any and all advice/assistance. (USAF Veteran, no one to help with this )

[@angelapursley2811]

Also, please forgive the million typos, I don't see edit option...old and tired

[@Lucious.Fletcher]

This will work with a Saturn ion??

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

I’m not sure. But it is a possibility. They have a lot in common.

[@JamesAngelo]

I'm considering buying one of these cars. It has 140K miles on it. Are they reliable?

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

I personally have the four-cylinder with the manual transmission. I think the majority of them have the six cylinder. I can only speak to mine. I have 220,000 miles on it. It’s still running strong. All of the body panels are plastic, except for the hood and rear hatch, so the body does not rust. It’s a little workhorse. I’ve used it to haul all kinds of big and crazy stuff inside with the seats folded down, and on top with the luggage racks. I’m personally a fan of it and would recommend it if it is in good operating condition. Definitely check underneath and make sure the frame is in good condition and not all rusted out. I replaced all of the suspension and wheel bearings in the last few years, and it rides like a dream. Downfalls are that it is an older vehicle. And I guess it doesn’t look cool. Those are not issues for me personally.

[@JamesAngelo]

@@HowtoandReviewsOfficial Thank you very much for the detailed reply. The one that I am looking into buying has a 4-cylinder Honda engine with a 5 speed manual transmission. It's probably just like yours. It's in rough shape considering the low mileage. I'm thinking probable odometer reverse or something. The good thing is that there is no rust, no oil leaks, etc. The guy wants $1,400 for it. I'm thinking about negotiating it lower. I want to test drive it one more time before making the final decision.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

@@JamesAngelo nice. If it drives nice, it’s something to consider. Mine had issues when I got it. I got a bunch of replacements for missing and broken parts from the pull it yourself auto salvage. It was inexpensive and fun.

[@JamesAngelo]

@@HowtoandReviewsOfficial You bought yours from the salvage yard? I ended up not buying the car. I was about to go test-drive it. I got on the Facebook Marketplace to check other cars before going there. I saw that he had relisted the car with a lower mileage for a lower price. It seemed fishy to me, so I didn't buy the car.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

@@JamesAngelo good call. That does sound fishy! I bought the car normally from a person, but there were a lot of broken and missing parts. I got replacement parts from the salvage yard. Like a tail light, interior trim pieces, and that kind of stuff. I enjoy going to the salvage yard for that kind of stuff. I have one nearby with over 2000 vehicles, and you just bring your own tools and get the stuff you want. I think it’s fun.

[@isnowyazn]

That clutch fluid looks hideous! But I guess if you absolutely baby the car and all, and don’t beat on the car at high RPM shifts and hot temps, it would merely get you by. By no means would I keep brake fluid that dirty and worn, in the clutch fluid/master cylinder reservoir. It literally takes 10-15 mins tops, a spare container, a chicken baster, paper towels, and a quart of DOT 3/4 brake fluid. Even a kid could cycle the clutch fluid and have it clean within an hour LOL! At this point, I’m also gonna assume that the manual trans fluid/gear oil is probably super old, dirty, and worn as well… Also a super easy DIY service; much more easier than a full automatic (5AT) transmission service in fact.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Thanks for sharing! I agree and I changed it. I filmed it and plan to edit into a video at some point.

[@hornofgabriel0723]

Hi! Just revived a 2003 vue from the grave. Amazing, really. Bad BCM. My doorlocks worked but weak, my dome and dash lights flickered, my warning lights on dash would come on and turn off. Sometimes my car would not start. The security system would trip out. After paying 1800 dollars for this car and replacing the alternator and battery the car still was unstable. Not trustworthy. I finally diagnosed it as a bad BCM...No one makes this BCM anymore. Cant order new one...and if you do get your hands on one, it is supposed to be out of the exact same year same model same option car or it will not work. Then the dealer has to program it... I was so depressed. Car sat 6 months... Then, a MIRICLE! I went to the local junk yard and found 4 Vues. 2004-2006. I ripped out ALL the BCMs... I installed one in my car out of a 2006 Vue with all wheel drive and an automatic transmission. Geuss what! It works. It shouldnt but it does.

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Lol! That cracked me up when you said you took aALL of the BCMs. That’s pretty strange that the wrong year and engine worked, but glad one of them worked! My Vue was in pretty rough shape when I got it about 6 years ago. I have a you-wrench-it auto salvage near me that has plenty of Vues. I replaced everything that was missing and broken. That was very enjoyable. Over the last couple years I also replaced all of the wheel bearings and suspension. It’s been a great car and I hope to drive it for many more years. Maybe I should grab a few BCMs the next time I’m there just in case I need one in the future…

[@hornofgabriel0723]

@@HowtoandReviewsOfficial you should! Im so glad you revived your Vue! I really love the Saturn S series cars from thr 90s. When I saw the stock wide body of the Vue I just had to have one!

[@mytwocents4892]

This problem is much worse in cold weather

[@HowtoandReviewsOfficial]

Definitely.

[@KnoWareMan03]

😢😢😢😢😢Stop typing😊