Was wondering if it'* possible to change the shift solenoids in a 2000 regal ls with the trany still in the car and how difficult it is?
It has the 4t65e trans with the 3.8 litre engine.
The car doesn't shift out of second gear, thinking of changing shift solenoid before spending 2 grand on a rebuild.
Any insight would be appreciated........thanks.

Well...just did a solenoid myself but not a shift solenoid. Pretty sure they are in the same place though. the dreaded side cover. You need to drop the subframe,driver axle, unbolt but dont remove brake control module..basically yeah you can replace them but its such a pain in the ***! takes about 5 hours if your really moving on it

Not real bad if you have the tools and the space. Support the engine from the top with a 4x4 and a chain. Drop the sub frame. Make sure you wire up the steering rack. Then lower the engine and trans a few inches. The side cover will just come off. Keep everything clean.

I'm confused on unbolting the brake module. Oh..you have an Ei.

In a Regal.
support the engine from above like Dan mentions
Drain the trans fluid
Disconnect the ps rack to subframe bolts (2 x 18mm)
Unbolt the one 10mm holding the ps line to the subframe by the motor mount.
Unbolt your 2 x 15mm nuts holding the motor mount to subframe
Unbolt your 2 x 15mm nuts holding the trans mount to the bracket on the trans
Unbolt your balljoint castle nuts and pop them free from the knuckles
Lower subframe.
Remove drivers axle
Now here'* the trick.. you need to lower the drivetrain and if you lower the trans side more than the engine side, it works best.
Remove sidecover as soon as you are low enough to sneak it out.

IIRC solenoid A is closer to the front of the car and B is to the rear.

HOWEVER THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT

You don't need to do any of that. 3rd gear requires both soleniods to be off and if either was stuck on, your pcm would report it. Say it hasn't reported it yet and you'd like to double check. Unplug the connector to the trans that is under the TB area. Squeeze the sides when you pull. Now try driving, the only gear you should have is 3rd.

If you get nothing..your third clutches are toasted or your third sprag is broken.

Another way to check is to get the revs up to about 4K in second and left off...it should shift into 4th and then hold 4th gear if you are moving fast enough.

Hey guy'*, thanks for the advice and trouble shooting tips....much appreciated.

Hey BillBoost37, Sounds like you've messed with this stuff before.
Have a couple questions.
I got a chance to try your trouble shooting methods today.
Unplugged tranny, all I had was 2nd, paying attention to the rpm and mph I had while being plugged in.
Tried going 4+ grand, let off, it stayed in second, shouldn't the trans go into like a neutral on these two tests?
Plugged in a snap-on 2500 scanner and it showed the soleniods going on and off as they should,even the 1and2 solenoid coming back on for overdrive- but still stays in second.
No codes being stored.I'm thinking it'* time for a rebuild?
Thanks for any advice.

If first works, then 4th should. Unless the 4th hub shaft is stripped.
Third can go out,

But unplugged w/o power. You can't achieve 2nd. It'* honestly not possible w/o power to one of the soleniods to move the valve.

Ok, I'll have to try it again.
I was turning around 3500rpm @ 55mph while feeling the trans shifting once from a dead stop and watching the 1 and 2 soleniod shut off, then watching the 3 and 4 soleniod shut off and no shift happening, thought I was staying in second.
Then unplugging the trans and taking off in what I thought was second because I was turning the same rpm @ 55 mph??
Does that sound right, 3500 rpm @ 55 mph for 3rd gear? Stock size tires, 2000 regal 3.8non superchared.Probably won't get a chance to try it again until next tuesday.

Forgot to mention I had a mt2500 snap-on scanner hooked to the car while I was doing this to watch the tranny functions.....

got trans rebuilt, 4th had stripped shaft and 3rd gear clutches where smoked.