[forest_grump]

Having to downshift taking hills is normal and most noticable when in cruise.Change thermostat and it will warm engine up within 5 minutes or so and shift into overdrive and lock up quicker again as before...might treat it to a transmission fluid and filter change if it hasn't been done in last 50,000 miles.....

On squeek/creaking noise...I would rock it side to side to see if I could reproduce it and dial in on what it is that way...often it is body mount bushing,swaybar bushings,shock bushings,rack mount bushings,A-frame bushings ect.ect.ect. that cause that sound...if you can't track it down and it does it consistently a certain place or way you drive...I would mix up 3 parts water to 1 part liquid dish soap and squirt it on a few different bushings at a time and see if it stops making noise....from there you can tight,replace or just give it another squirt now and again....goodluck lol