Symptoms: For a week or so the tranny was taking 10 to 12 minutes for OD to engage after starting up and driving. Shifter relay going bad I thought!

My diagnosis: Shifter relay going bad I thought! Went to Pic a Part, grabbed a hand full of relays and tried them.

Reponse: It wasn't the relay.

I then checked the fluid and it was a little low so I added and still not working right.

Then three days ago it starts to not engage from 3rd OD at all.

Within one day it wasn't shifting from 2nd to 3rd!!

Called my local repair shop, whom I have had perform work on the car, and his response after hearing the symptoms was "if it's not leaking fluid, then the tranny has gone south and we can get good used one, will replace all the seals and give you a 90 day warranty." He didn't tell me the price though but I'll still have the work done as I don't want to sell the car.

Should I suggest having the fluid flushed before the big and expensive tranny replacement?

Thanks
Joel