90 buick regal transmission problems

[EsQueue]

Hello all, I have a 1990 buick regal with a 3800 engine and an automatic transmission. The car have only 65000 miles. The problem is that after starting the car after it's been been sitting for a while, it takes a few switches from neutral to drive for it to engage. It also goes back into neutral after hard stops. After the transmission engages, there is no slipping and it still pulls hard.

At work I park on a slope where the passenger side is way lower than the driver side and it is harder to get into drive then.

Tranny fluid is full. The most recent work was changing the radiator as tranny fluid got into the coolant. This was a few months ago though.

Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance.

What can my problem be? Is it worth fixing?

[maxwedge]

Welcome to AF, try one xtra quart of oil, make sure you are checking the oil engine hot on a level surface also. If this does not work the unit is starting to fail. BTW, no apologies for the post, well composed and all the info we need was included, I wish we got this all the time.

[richtazz]

I agree Max, it's refreshing to get all the info so we can make an accurate assessment. For a car this old with this low mileage, I would try changing the trans filter, and add some Seafoam or Trans-X . It's a good chance that the filter is laquered up from all the setting around, or internal passages and valves may be gummed up. MAke sure you just change the filter and fluid drained from the pan. Do not do a fluid flush/exchange!

[EsQueue]

Thank you very much for the quick responses.

[EsQueue]

I had put in ½ a quart before the post was made. I added the other ½ today after work based on the advice I received here and it appears to have stop the problem.

I will put in in the shop to have a fluid and filter replacement. I will also tell them about the leak that I just noticed.

Thanks again.