NEWBY: I'm distraught - three issues with which I need help.

1st issue: In June 2011 (a month b4 lay-off), I spent all I had to buy a beautiful 2000 Park Ave with ONLY 42,000 miles, thinking I'd have a long time before needing major repairs. But by 42,100 the transmission started slipping at take-off / reverse. No evidence of slippage in the first week and a half after purchase.

The car had been sitting for approx 14 months prior to purchase. Fluid looks & smells good, and is at right level. Mechanic replaced a quart of fluid with Lucas, hoping it would dislodge debris before fluid and filter change. Didn't help. Check engine light came on and went off once. Have not checked codes. I don't know specific kind of tranny, or how to find that info. Will provide VIN if needed.

What little info I can find, shows it could be caused by debris in valve body, pressue control solenoid, modulator, or a loose/twisted motor mount. Please offer suggestions as to what I should consider first. I'm older, seeking employment, and have little funds to work with.

2nd issue: climate control. I've never had an automatic system like this before and I'm not sure that it is working correctly. Outside temp is right, but system doesn't always come on when it'* hot INSIDE the car. Can force it by turning off / on, but then it runs full blast. If try to adjust fan speed down, it turns off again. How is this system supposed to function?

3rd issue: driver'* seat adjustment. Can move forward and back; NO up/down; NO tilt. Motors turn when push buttons, but no movement. Seller suggested the cable might be broken or needed rewound. Mechanic says $50 just to pull seat out. Any suggestions?

Thanking you in advance for any help / suggestions.

Post up the code you have. That may help. Could be the pressure control solenoid. To change this the trans needs to be lowered enough to remove the side pan, it'* a several hour job. It only slips at take off? Does it help to manually shift it down to 1st gear? Have your mechanic check the trans oil pressure.

Add a couple washers to the "plunger" on the 1-2/reverse band that can be accessed while doing a fluid/filter change. Just did this a couple weekends ago.

97 ... can you go further into detail. I think I understand and could explain, but need to make sure I got it.

No problem bill, i switched to dex vi while changing the filter and also installing a DIY shift kit a few weekends ago. I did it on a slow day at work and one of the other techs that used to rebuild trannys asked if my car shuddered in reverse, i said no but he suggested that by how loose my 1-2/reverse band was that i add a washer or 2 while im in there to pick up some slack.
The band im talking about can be seen with the pan off from the passenger side, the "plunger" deal that you add the washers to is removed by 2 or 3 10MM bolts, its the round piece at the other end of 2 accumulator lines.
Now granted i changed the fluid and added a shift kit at the same time, along with my car not slipping in the first place, but the tech did say i should notice the difference most while shifting into reverse and on the 2-1 shift, and that what he showed me would help a car with the reverse shudder.
This might not fix the OPs trans, but it would be worth a shot to make it last a bit longer. Worth a pan drop IMO.

Ok, I know where that is. but .. how/where did you add the washer?

That would be this round guy with teh tubes going to it in the left of the picture.

That be it, i was doing the shift kit while the other tech messed with the band so im not 100% sure, but i would imagine you add the(m) washer(*) in a fashion where it will push the arm on the "plunger" against the band a bit more. Sorry i probably shouldve watched him but i figured it was as simple as i just explained it. In my head i would think the washers go on the bottom or cover side.

Dan,

Thank you for your reply. Haven't been back to shop since ck eng light came on, so don't know code, but will post as soon as have. Isn't 1811 the PCS code? No, does not help to shift down to 1st gear, still slips. Will do trans oil pressure check.

I want to say Yes to the "only slips at take off", BUT, once - the very day all this started, just once (so I thought I was imagining things) it did seemingly lose power when I took a rolling left turn (haven't taken that turn as fast since). I attributed it to the tranny, but truthfully, I'm not so sure.

I really want to love my new car, like I've loved all her predecessors, but right now my heart just aches.

Thank you again, Cindy

#2- the way my bonnie works you can put in auto mode and set the temp up or down and it adjusts the fan speed on its own. if you start messing with the fan settings it takes it out of auto and does what you entered.

#3- take the seat out and see if you can see what going on under there. its usually two or four bolts and a couple connectors.

Cindy..

All cars at some point will cause us grief. Stick with it and you'll like it again soon.