2002 Regal LS Maintenance for Trans/steering?
 

Hi, I'm new here. I bought an '02 Buick Regal LS a few weeks ago with just under 80,000 miles. The CarFax was clean as far as no accidents, etc., but with limited maintenance records. I've since noticed a couple of things:

First: The transmission is very smooth most of the time, but after driving in heavy traffic for a while, it's starts to shift hard. I've searched the forums, and it seems most likely that it's a pressure solenoid sticking? If I keep driving the car until I can afford to get it fixed, am I causing extra damage to the transmission? Also, the fluid looks and smells ok, but I doubt it was ever changed. The owner's manual says every 100,000 miles, but some info suggest that flushing it after so long might actually kill the transmission. Should I just get it drained instead, or do nothing and hope for the best?

Second: the steering has a popping sound/feel when turning at low speeds. It seems that this happens frequently with GM cars from this time period. I've read that lubrication, not replacement of the intermediate steering shaft alleviates the problem. If I don't have this done right away, am I causing unnecessary wear/damage, or is it just annoying?

Otherwise, I really like the car and the way it drives, so any help to keep it running on a budget would be really appreciated! Thanks.

most of the people who say that not doing the trans already had a problem, and thats why they were changing it. i change the coolant, trans/filter, and spark plugs at 80k no matter what gm says, ive had many vehicles and that seems to be were the problems with those start if you dont. there is a new trans fluid that needs to be put in i guess it clears up some issues. it would be a good time to change the air and fuel filter too if they weren't done

Yup as above.
Engine needs to be in fresh tune, New Iridium plugs, air filter, fuel filter, wires etc for electronic control transmission to be right as well.
No check engine lights too.
If you can get a transmission shop to do a scan with a good high end scanner it may find the dreaded P1811 long adapt shift code. Thats what i found when trans go hot and it got some harsh shifting going on.
I then put a can of Trans tune in to clear varnish from the valve body end.
Trans Tune | Sea Foam Sales Company
Harsh shifts went away, and drove then for 700 miles with the can of trans tune in.
Then I installed a trans go shift kit with springs & spacer into accumulator which is accessible once the trans pan is off. Used the new fluid-Dexron VI (6) and all will be good again if ya got P1811...like I did.
Re scanned a few weeks later all is well no codes.
I did the shift kit install myself in about 1.5 hours to on road and re-filled.
TransGo | 4T65E: SK 4T65E
pics of my shift kit install makes sense as shift kit comes with good instruction, and then u can relate to pics from on bench.. Emory cloth to clean the bores is on bench too.
https://www.gmforum.com/buick-172/4t...-302566/page5/