Hello there:
I’m just checking in here for the first time as I’m in need of your advice. I also have some experience with basic maintenance but it is relatively short term experience. I welcome your suggestions and guidance as I’m somewhat of a novice when it comes auto maintenance and repair. Here is all the (too much) background info.

I purchased a 1990 Buick LeSabre, from a family member a couple of years ago, until then it was kept in a residential garage. I’m familiar with the car. Over the years I helped maintain it and made basic obvious repairs -- mostly by bringing the car to a local mechanic or bodyshop. At times, I’ve gone to a junk yard for parts. I’m not a mechanic. I do enjoy figuring stuff out and working on the car, it has sentimental value too -- so here I am as an amateur hobbyist. By the way, there were no codes (paperclip ALDL) when I received the car but then I temporarily disconnected something from the trans and got the 26,27,28,29 (Quad Driver module circuit) codes. These would probably clear out if I try to clear them again and there are no warning lights or check engine lights lit on the dash. As far as I know, I do not have access to 5 digit codes for the trans.

Over the past three years, a friend has helped with repairs by suggesting a Haynes repair manual, lending tools and offering moral support. Now, I have a couple of new tools and a couple of new parts that I am not ready to install. I also have some regrets about not having the trans fluid/filter changed and not picking up a replacement ICM at the junk yard. A local trans shop quoted a refurb of the trans…the cost of this initial estimate exceeds the book value of the car. I am beginning to wonder if the car is worth less than the sum of its parts. I’ll post a question soon about old Betty’* trans fluid/filter/pan/gasket on the boards.

As the proud owner of a car that everyone loves to ride in, I’ve started going through the items listed in the manual as standard maintenance and tune up -- learning as I go. The next few items on my overall list include, transmission fluid and filter, new crank case vent valve, O2 sensor testing, EGR testing, new rear drum brake pads & springs. The undercarriage fuel lines could look better (don’t look) and I hope to have an opportunity to assess fuel pressure after testing the throttle position sensor...getting way ahead of myself here. I’m avoiding the fuel filter. A honeycomb airflow straightener and an ignition timing scale are on my wish list.

In the past two or three years, the following work was performed on the car: spark plugs and wires were replaced, a rattling heat shield was “repaired”, two door seam water leaks were sealed, the windshield was replaced, the engine coolant was flushed. The intake air filter and air temp sensor were replaced. The MAF, IAC valve and easily accessible areas of the air intake were cleaned. The shift point cable was adjusted to reduce a low speed down shift clunk (can such a shift point be achieved via the adjustable vacuum modulator), transmission coolant lines developed a leak from rust and were replaced, a new vacuum modulator was installed and removed. The A/C compressor was reinstalled and system charged. A new rim was installed with two new tires including rotation and alignment, and there was some body work including replacement of both bumpers. Installed a new headliner. Parking break hold down pin and drum break return spring replaced. I’ve removed the hubcaps and plan to replace two of them – one was missing.

Thank you,
The Amateur.