Here's an update on the slipping tranny...

Car was towed to dealer. Dealer looked at it yesterday afternoon. According to mechanic, the fluid was silver and had metal shaving in it. Diagnosis: new tranny. Cost: approx. $3000 P/L/taxes.

This dealer had, just <40kmi ago, serviced the fluid. So, I called the Service Manager (who's been very good over the last 8 years and has been very helpful, knows me when I call him, used to be a "wrench", etc.) and asked if he thought it was sensible that a car that had all scheduled maintainence at that dealer, including a tranny fluid change, should throw a transmission at 118kmi. He said no and would look at it.

He called me late this morning having just gotten back from driving the car. He'd looked at the fluid himself earlier and didn't think it looked nearly as doomsday as the mechanic, and told the mechanic to do a complete flush. They ran 16 quarts through the thing, then filled it.

The car drives now, but has a definite whine in 1st gear. Reverse seems to work fine. There's also a slight shudder that, I think, is related to torque converter lockup, but I've always had a hard time feeling lockup in that particular car.

His suggestion was to drive it that way until it gets too bad, and then either replace with the volvo transmission as quoted above, or with a used transmission (he'd called around and tracked one down today) for around $450 + installation. The flush today was done at no charge to me.

So, there you have it. Perhaps things could have been alleviated if I'd flushed sooner, then again perhaps they were on their way out and Wednesday was just its day.

-cj