Automatic Transmission question on Century 2004

[MetalGrannie]

Hope someone can help. My husband and I are both retired, and we drove a 1996 Saturn until January 2015. After many years and many repairs, we had the transmission fixed 1-1/2 years ago, and then had another breakdown. Mechanic said not to pour any more money into it. We junked it.

We bought a 2002 Malibu Chevy on March 25th, and just returned it to the #%##@@#### used car dealer because there was a lien on the title. We were able to exchange it for a 2004 Buick Century. We were used to jolts etc. on the Saturn, and the whole 6 weeks we had the Malibu (console shifter) I was impressed because the transmission would make the automatic changes really smooth.

We just picked up the Century today (column shifter) and noticed that the automatic changes are not as smooth as the Malibu . . . I can feel it changing . . . . a wee bit of a jolt. I am so afraid that this car is beginning to have transmission problems. Test drove it, but didn't notice. Don't know if a Century's transmission is supposed to feel like that, or not. Also don't know if the fact that it has a column shifter may have a bearing on it. I haven't driven a car with a column shifter since my early 20's!

I had to take my husband to the VA Hospital during the period we were waiting to see if the lien on the Malibu was cleared because he was having chest pains. Turned out to be anxiety. If this means that this car's transmission will go bad soon, he'll really have a heart attack. Can't really afford to have the transmission checked out. Any comments will be very much appreciated.

Sorry for the long message. Thanks, and greetings from Miami, FL. Oh, yeah, and we bought the car "as is" with no warranty.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Welcome aboard! And thank you for signing up. Greetings back at you from Royal Palm Beach! I'm going to let more knowledgeable people respond about the transmission shifting. However, I do know that having a column shifter won't make any different on smoothness... Let's see what others have to say on the rest...

 

[STG44]

Column shifter has no effect on how your car shifts. You don't specify mileage. If you haven't checked your tranny fluid
level have someone check it for you. It should be RED with no hint of burned smell. If the color is off at all have it
changed. The cost can be around $100 depending on where you live. This may not help if your transmission needs a
rebuild! Also I assume you have no SES light illuminated on your dash indicating "Service engine soon" which could
mean you have a transmission code. Sorry to be so pessimistic but I have been down this road before. Pete

 

[MelsRegal]

you don't state how many miles are on the car so the best thing you can do is have the transmission filter and fluid changed. Do NOT let the shop flush the transmission. While the car is having the service performed let them check the engine/transmission mounts also.

 

[JMurphy]

+1 with MelsRegal. Check for low or bad trans fluid. I would bet it's engine mounts. If you open hood you will see two 'T-bone' mounts connecting engine to front top frame above radiator. It has bolts through thick rubber. The rubber may have torn, allowing motor/trans to 'jerk' when trans shifts.
Two things may point out bad mounts quick. With car in park and hood open, quickly romp the gas and let go. See if motor moves to much. It should barely move.
A second thing is to try and rock the motor by hand to see if it moves to much.
There's a total of 3 engine mounts. Two T-bone top mounts and a lower block shaped mount in front of motor under harmonic balancer. These are what supports and absorbs vibration, acceleration and shifting. I would also check for missing nuts on this 3rd mount. Peaking under car just past the cars main frame behind front passenger tire, you should see two studs poking down below front of motor.

Buick Century should be a very smooth ride. Both in suspension and drive train. Almost never hear these cars with a bad trans unless major neglect. The common problem with these cars is intake & head gaskets leak from cheap gaskets installed by manufacture. Also a few diodes go bad in dash cluster. Hope this doesn't scare you on car. Not all run into these problems but it would be nice to know if these common problems have been dealt with. I love the comfortable seats and suspension. I just drove mine from MI to CA and back to MI. Comfy long ride. Other than bad gaskets these motors really are tanks that can last 300k with proper gaskets and regular maintenance.