92Lumina PROBLEMS!!

[92LumSedan]

I have a 1992 Lumina Sedan with a rough idle and a hard shift. I have never changed the transmission fluid which is black and low. I am pretty sure once i change the fluid and filter that will be fine. I have a very very rough idle...It drops drastically when put in neutral. I am pretty sure it is nothing with the exhaust, most parts are fairly new. It sounds like it is coming from deep under the hood when I am driving..almost in front of my feet and below. I also have to change the passenger side mirror, and door handle. Any help provided for any of these catastrophies will be so greatly appreciated. I love my Lumina, I DO NOT want to put it down. Thanks

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by 92LumSedan

I have a 1992 Lumina Sedan with a rough idle and a hard shift. I have never changed the transmission fluid which is black and low. I am pretty sure once i change the fluid and filter that will be fine. I have a very very rough idle...It drops drastically when put in neutral. I am pretty sure it is nothing with the exhaust, most parts are fairly new. It sounds like it is coming from deep under the hood when I am driving..almost in front of my feet and below. I also have to change the passenger side mirror, and door handle. Any help provided for any of these catastrophies will be so greatly appreciated. I love my Lumina, I DO NOT want to put it down. Thanks

First guess: rough idle and hard shift can both be caused by a vacuum leak.

Pull the door panel for the other two. Easy money. (Exterior) Door handles are available from GM if you have $200. Or from NAPA for $25. Your call. The NAPA unit is made in Taiwan, and not a bit more confidence-inspiring than the GM unit which looks poorly-designed and destined to fail at an obvious stress-point. If you have a 3.4, you'll have to paint the door handles to match the car.

Pulling the door panel will involve a tiny Allen head set screw at the mirror control, several screws along the perimiter, two screws through the armrest, a bunch of plastic clips, and you'll most likely want replacements for at least one or two of 'em (Also at NAPA) Pry off the trim panel around the door lock, and unscrew the panel around the inside door handle. Be careful with the upholstery at the bottom of the window, it's held in the channel with two metal clips that snag the cloth--release 'em gently.

Door handle held on with two 10mm nuts and a plastic clip for the actuator rod. Access the rear nut by pulling a plastic plug out of the door sheetmetal. Front and rear door handles are the same, but left and right are different.

Mirror held on with--I think--three 10 mm nuts, and watch the routing of the cable so it goes back in just like it came out. Second-to-the last one I bought was $160 out of GM, the last one was $25 from a salvage yard. The GM one is made in Communist China and after two years is the most faded and crappy-looking part of the car. The original Made In Canada ones are thirteen years old and look fine except for the bug splat. Paint is still nice 'n' black.

No kidding GM is near bankruptcy.