1995 Buick Century

Sedan

6 Cylinder

Automatic

1G4AG55M9S6423244

Gasoline

Power Windows

1995 Buick Century 6 cylinder 3.1 liter Transmission problems, still drives, watch video below. The transmission has had problems off and on for the last 3 years. The issue is that it doesn't engage first gear. If you rev the engine, it will shift into second and then drives fine. When you come to a stop and start again, it will often just start in second gear. About 3 years ago this happend, and after driving it for a day and letting it cool overnight, it would work beautifully for the next several months to a year. Then I would have the problem again for a day or two. A couple weeks ago it failed again. This time the problem is persisting more than it has in the past. There was one day that first gear worked fine, but then it broke again. Reverse often does not engage either, which means if you're on a slanted parking spot, you have to push your car to get it out of the parking spot. Backing in solves that problem. It may "fix itself" again in a few days, but I'm not as optimistic this time. It needs new transmission fluid, but I'm not going to bother flushing it since it just needs a new transmission anyway. If you are a mechanic (which I am not), this transmission on eBay looks like it would work as a replacement. The engine started leaking oil about two or three months ago. I have to add a quart of oil every 1,000 miles or so. The car has new brakes as of a few months ago, including new rotors, as of a year and a half ago. The muffler and exhaust pipe are almost brand new. Got a new water pump and replaced the alternator about 3 years ago. The roof is bent in because someone sat on it (could probably easily be popped out, I haven't tried a toilet plunger), there are minor hail dents and right mirror is cracked from all the storms this has been through (this Buick has been the official TCS storm chasing vehicle for the last 3 years). Some of the rubber trim pieces have fallen off. See the photos. Below is the link to the video. The audio quality on my webcam is terrible. The engine doesn't sound quite that bad. :) You can't always here what I'm saying, so I'll state a few things here. The AC works great, hasn't had to be recharged in the last 4 years I've had it. The AC does not work in the NORM position, and sometimes having it in the OFF position leaves the fans running and sometimes makes a funny smell. I just leave it on vent with the fan turned down if I don't need the AC or heater. Glove compartment is held closed with a magnet because the latch broke. On two of the doors I have reattached the wires, so you can see the wire nuts in the video. Tape player and radio were disconnected and slightly modified so I could wire a different amplifier (not included). Not sure if they still work if wired normally. I think the radio works at least, but no guarantees. Click here to watch the video I've taken apart the dash more than once, so there are probably a few screws missing. The rear speakers were removed and the holes were widened to fit replacement speakers, which are not for sale. The front-right speaker is damaged. The defrost vent grill is broken. The dash has a hole in it from trying to mount a camera. A piece from the dimmer switch fell out (I can't find it now), so the brights don't turn on. Just needs that piece.