Overdrive issue on 2003 Buick Regal?

My 2003 Buick Regal has 96k miles. The car was fine, but had "sat" for a few weeks, with me only driving it about once a week (gas hog compared to my wife's car!)

Then, I drove it a week or so ago, and noticed problems. The car is fine except when I really push the pedal and try to do hard acceleration. I am 99% sure it only happens when I am putting the car into overdrive...

What happens is my tach goes way up, I get no speed (I'm in neutral basically), and I hear a clicking or tapping sound at a moderate tempo of maybe 2 or 3 clicks as second. I take off the gas, give it low to moderate gas, and I'm fine.

I have been trying to diagnose this myself and have so far weeded out a lot of "red herrings", and now I am pretty certain that it's a problem with the transmission going in to overdrive.


I saw something about this on specific cars where the problem is the "end clutch" warping or going bad, and you open up the tranny, take it out, and replace the bad end clutch. Does this sound like it could be the culprit? What else could be going on here?


I am trying to avoid taking this to a shop because I have another perfectly driveable car (because my wife is pregnant and not working), and because I am pretty short on cash (same reason)... Is it reasonable for a careful person with only light auto experience to do this work at home?


Thanks,

Robert

Hello Robert, welcome to the forum

I hope Hobbist will see this and react. I am sure he will have an answer

Thank you!

As a follow up here...

Checked my trans fluid and it looked about at the right level, but checked my oil and it had seemed a bit high... did an oil change yesterday and was very careful about putting the right amount back in. No improvement or change

Also tried and I have a similar issue in Park, around 4k RPM I get major power limiting. I found out that this is my "rev limiter" kicking in....

I think that my issue may not be linked to a classic transmission type of thing at all, but actually that the problem kicks in when I am at 4k RPM. I've done some research on this and that could be due to my car's computer being stuck in some kind of "safe mode" after a fault. I am going to take my car to my father in law's today to read the codes from the car computer and clear them all off (reset it). Hopefully this will fix the issue at least temporarily

Looks like it could potentially be a part going bad somewhere, or filters that need to be replaced, or a bad sensor somewhere... still of course looking for any kind of input as I am ready to try anything!

http://www.diyforums.net/forums/diy-tips/45606- gmtransmissions.html

Further information...

Replaced the "front" 3 spark plugs (not done with the back yet..).. found one to look extremely burned

Replaced fuel filter

"Checked" the ignition coils.. I could only get to terminals on the packs that go to the spark plugs, so I checked resistance between those on each of the packs (each holds 2 coils). All gave the same reading of 6.1k... not sure what further to check in there

I also got one of the OBD II code checkers from my father in law and tried it.... much to our surprise it reads no error codes. When I turn my key to the 'on' position (don't start the car yet) the "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" yellow light is on solid, though, until I start...

Everything I've done has not solved the issue, and between 3500 and 4000 rpm I seem 'stuck'. I seem to be getting better power overall until this point though, although I haven't done too much testing. That makes me wonder if I have solved the issue but now am being limited by a computer or similar.

I unplugged my battery and am going to let that sit for a couple hours and see if that clears off my fault code.

reread gm transmission i have added more data.it sounds like speed sensor on transmission is screwing up sending failure signal to main computor.servicing transmission fluid and filter would not hurt if it has never been changed its time.96 thousand miles is to much on fluid if not changed.m.f.g. recommends every 3000 mile on this tranny its totally electric with elec selanoids and relays in the fluid inside the pan dirt its the destoryer.

Post edited by: hobbist, at: 2008/08/03 08:40

service engine soon is normal for this. it is car suppose to do that sequence.my olds and chevy lumina does the same thing.

if your engine is making oil show some kind of leak.a head gasket is leaking coolant in the oil.compression test should detect this or a cracked head.or even a problem with the block.you do not just change three plugs if you change one you change them all at the same time if not firing correctly causes tranny to shift funny.e.c.m takes signals form engine sensors to determand when and at what rpm to shift. plug gap is very important also. this is a gm i know so i have two of them had the same problems do to poor tune ups.include wire changes on and off every sec tune up.

Post edited by: hobbist, at: 2008/08/03 08:59