Exotic Chemicals Transmission Tragedy

"I THOUGHT I WAS FINALLY THROUGH WITH CAR REPAIR!", she moaned.

Her car was a pale yellow Chevy with an automatic transaxle. It only had 45,000 miles on it. The transmission shifted beautifully when cold, but would not shift out of first gear after it got hot. Two local transmission shops had told her it needed a complete overhaul: at a price of over $1000.

I checked the fluid level, and it was fine...........
BUT THE SMELL KNOCKED ME OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was hard to describe, but it was like sticking your nose in a can of paint remover!
I asked her if she'd added anything to the transmission.
"Well, it had a little leak, so Bubba (the latest boyfriend) had gotten some transmission fluid additive at the Auto Bone Discount Car Parts store. The leak had slowed down, so he added another can. It was soon after this that her shift problems started.

I looked for her leak: it was a simple one at the transmission pan gasket.
I told her a fluid and filter change MIGHT fix it: but no guarantees. In any case, a $50 transmission service is woth the gamble if it saves a $800 transmission overhaul. ( My prices are a bit below most other transmission shops.)

Unlike a number of other times, the fluid and filter change fixed her problem. I told her never to use additives on the newer transmissions, especially if the only problem is a simple leak. Those additives worked O.K. for some older trannys, but not on the newer ones!

Linda thanked me, and swore "I'll never use exotic chemicals again!!!!