Overheating is the worst thing that can happen to your Saturn SW’s transmission. An overheating transmission will drastically shorten its service life. If you suspect that your transmission is overheating, doing something about it now can keep you from an expensive transmission repair later. Low transmission fluid is the number one cause of an overheating transmission.
Allowing your SW’s transmission to overheat for any period of time can damage it in the same way that driving with an overheating engine can hurt the engine. It is important to know the symptoms and causes of an overheating transmission.
Contents:
Transmission Overheating Symptoms: Saturn SW
Here are the most common symptoms of an overheating transmission:
1. Slipping
Slipping is a condition that occurs when your SW’s engine revs higher than intended as the transmission’s internal components fail to transfer the energy to the driveshaft(s). An overheating transmission is the most common reason why a transmission will slip.
See Also: Saturn SW Transmission Slipping
2. Burnt or Dirty Transmission Fluid
If the transmission fluid looks dirty or burnt, it should be changed right away. This is an indication that the transmission may have overheated at some point. The fluid will no longer be able to do its job the way it could when it was new (higher temps, likely to slip).
Here’s more on telling what is going on with your transmission based on the color.
Transmission Overheating Causes: Saturn SW
Here are the most common causes of an overheating transmission:
1. Low Fluid/Bad Fluid
Low transmission fluid is the most common reason that your Saturn SW’s transmission will overheat under normal operation. The fluid that is left must work much harder. The overworking transmission fluid will overheat and lose its ability to cool operate the transmission quickly, which only makes the problem worse.
If the transmission fluid is overdue for a change it may have lost its ability to properly cool the transmission. Looking a the color and sticking with Saturn’s transmission maintenance schedule is critical to long transmission life.
2. Climate
Extreme heat can test your SW’s cooling system. When it’s really hot out it causes your transmission fluid to heat up and break down faster than in normal conditions. Always use the fluid recommended by Saturn.
3. Towing
If you are using your SW to tow or haul, it’s much harder on the transmission than normal operation. Some large trucks were designed to tow with heavy duty transmissions and a cooling system designed for the job. Even then, they still need to follow a more rigorous maintenance schedule.
4. Heavy Use
Stop and go traffic in the city, or run and gun type delivery work will cause an automatic transmission to work harder than normal, this can cause it to overheat. Make sure to keep an eye on the fluid and get a cooler if needed.
5. Cooling System Issues
Automatic transmission fluid is cooled through the same radiator that the antifreeze goes through. If there is something wrong with the radiator, it’s not going to properly cool the transmission fluid.
If your automatic transmission has been overheating, take a look at the front of the radiator and make sure that it is clean and free of large debris (think plastic grocery bag). It only takes a second and can save you a lot of time.
6. Solenoid Issues
Transmission are full of solenoids. Solenoids control the shifts by regulating the transmission fluid/pressure. They also let transmission fluid in. If a solenoid is acting up, you may get the check engine light, and the transmission will overheat. This is due to there being plenty of fluid in the transmission pan, but not enough going where it needs to go in the transmission itself.
Hot to Prevent Transmission Overheating
Preventing your Saturn SW’s transmission from overheating can save you from a very expensive repair. Below you’ll find some practical tips for doing just that.
Take Care of the Transmission Fluid
Taking care of your transmission fluid is the number one thing that you can do to keep your transmission from overheating.
- Check the Fluid– Check the transmission fluid often. If the color looks off go ahead and change it. If it’s low add fluid. This will keep most transmissions from overheating.
- Follow the Maintenance Schedule– Following Saturn’s scheduled service times will keep your transmission operating like new and dissipating heat properly. If the fluid overstays its welcome, it can go bad and start to lose its efficacy, and the transmission will overheat.
- Make Sure It’s Full– Transmission fluid’s primary job is to dissipate heat. Just like antifreeze, if there isn’t enough of it your transmission will overheat. Check the level often. This is the most common reason that a transmission will overheat.
Aftermarket Oil Pan
An aftermarket oil pan can help by allowing more transmission fluid to cycle through your SW’s transmission. This lets it run cooler since the extra fluid means there is more to cycle through and heat up, which in turn will make it take longer to heat the transmission up (or overheat it). It can also cool the pan letting the transmission run cooler overall.
External Transmission Cooler
As long as your SW is stock and used in the way the manufacturer intended, you shouldn’t need to add an external transmission fluid cooler. But, if you are towing or live in an extremely warm climate that tests the transmission constantly, an external transmission cooler can help keep your transmission cool.
External transmission coolers are relatively affordable and easy to install. If you are doing a lot of heavy towing, you may wish to consider a higher capacity transmission pan too. But, an external transmission cooler actively cools the transmission fluid and makes a noticeable difference in the transmission temperature, and is typically easier to install than the transmission pan.
Conclusion: SW Transmission Overheating
Overheating can drastically shorten your transmission’s life. Checking the fluid often and adding extra cooling if needed can help it live a long trouble free life. If there is anything that you would like to add, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading.