Mitsubishi Repair: 2000 eclipse tranny and steering, input shaft, flash check

Question
I have a 2000 Eclipse RS And it has 85k miles on it and latley ive been having problems with my steering sometimes the last 2 times after it rains ill go to my car and start it up and turn my wheel but it wont turn hardly at all i need to use all my strength just to turn then when i shake my wheel back and forth i hear a "clink" sound and i can turn with ease again. All my fluids are where they should be so i dont know what would be causing this.
My other problem is my tranny seems to get stuck in 2nd gear ill take off from a stop fine ill watch my rpms go up and return to where it should be to start 2nd but sometimes the rpms will just contine to raise until i step on the gas and hit 80mph the the rpms go back down and works properly but it seems i have a big lack of power after this happends. I love my car and need help to solve these hope you can help!!

Answer
The lack of movement in the rack only occurs when after it rains? That sounds a bit bizarre, but it wouldn't take much to find the culrit. It would require the car be jacked up before the wheel was turned and see if the tie rods responded with the turning of the steering. Continue inspecting by moving the wheel a bit, but not to the point of making the steering turn freely again. Go up to the input shaft at the base of the steering and see if the u-joint is bound up. My bet is that's the problem, but it's going to take getting under the car to verify it.

Transmission: Do you see an O/D light flash, Check engine light on or anything of that nature? Speedometer work normally?