Wont shift out of first after new neutral safety switch installed

SOURCE: 2001 Saturn SL2 shifting hard jerks...sometimes

This could be a dirty filter. i would start there and replace fluids with lucas tranny fluid. Does it change when the car warms up i wonder ?

SOURCE: 1999 Saturn SL2 shifting problems

I also have a 1999 sl2 saturn . I was having about the same problem but mine also did not want to go into reverse somtimes as well . Ichanged my fluid and filter and put in a good trans conditioner and just about all my trouble went away. The trans filter is just like a oil filter it just screws on the outside of the transmission . It is located down under the air filter housing, and the fluid plug is right on the bottom of the trans.

SOURCE: Saturn SW1 will not shift into 2nd, 4th, or reverse

no hydralic fluid in the resvoir look for the resvoir on the fire wall of the drivers side if its empty well fill it back up lol not sure if the sw1 has this but ive had too fix this problem before

SOURCE: 2001 Saturn SL Manual Transmission stuck in 2nd Gear

I had this same problem with my 1998 SL2 after about 170,000 miles. There is a plastic bushing at the end of the shifter cable that holds the cable to the shifter - it probably broke. Remove the center console inside the car to access the bottom of the shifter. I checked my local Saturn dealer to find the replacement cables (come as a set) are more than $200. So I went to Lowes and bought a beam clamp and a large washer to hold the cable to the shifter. It has been working fine for more than 28,000 miles and cost less than $3

SOURCE: My 1997 Saturn SW1 will not shift into 2nd, 3rd,

The cables attach near the back of the transaxle. You may be able to see them under the brake lines. You will probably need to remove the air intake from the throttle body to get good access.