Transaxle

The general design of the Saturn automatic transaxle is a parallel shaft arrangement where the entire transaxle is located in line and directly behind the engine. This arrangement is basically the same as most front wheel drive transaxles. The transaxle provides four speeds forward and one reverse.
The transaxle is a fully automatic unit consisting of four multiple disc clutches, a four element torque converter with a lock up clutch, 1st gear sprag clutch, and a servo actuated dog clutch.
The most significant departure from the traditional automatic transaxle comes from the use of electronic controls. This unit utilizes five electrohydraulic solenoids in conjunction with a powertrain control module (PCM) and its sensors to control shift timing, shift feel, and provide on-board diagnostics.