A few days ago, the check engine light came on in my car.
This is never a welcome sight. Generally, I love lights, all kinds.
Just not ones that show up on my dashboard.
My husband checked the code with his trusty code reader, and it pointed to something transmission related.
Fooey.
I checked in with my favorite mechanic, Mr. Google, and learned that this code could indicate a range of problems, ranging from the relatively minor (change that dirty transmission fluid) to the catastrophic (get a new transmission).
Mr. Google (and Mr. Yelp, to be fair) then helped me find a local transmission shop. I picked one that got great reviews.
The fellows sure were friendly (just like Yelp said they would be)!
They did a free inspection! Also very nice!
They said I need a new transmission! They have a lovely payment plan!
Ooof.
This is when my deep-seated, latent distrust of people started to bubble up.
(Incidentally, and a little off topic: I have also started to have trust issues with dentists. I’ve had so many experiences in recent years with my loved ones where we got completely different stories about what kind of dental work we needed from the different dentists we talked to: “Your teeth are terrible! You need the ultra-intense four quadrant cleaning at $180 a section!” and then, from the next dentist: “Your teeth are fine! I don’t know what they were talking about. But, you know, if you wanted, it might not hurt to talk about Invisalign. Here’s information about a payment plan!”
We actually had a dentist tell us that the previous dentist must have needed to make a boat payment, because he seriously overstated the problems in my husband’s mouth.
End of dental rant. With apologies to all the honest, kind, reputable mechanics and dentists who are in the world. Especially my friends who are dentists! This isn’t about you. Some of your colleagues, though? They trouble me.)
Since the cost of a new transmission is more than the value of the car, and since the car is driving just fine still, we’re going to wait. I called another friend who knows something about cars, and he said that if it’s driving fine, why not keep it until it doesn’t anymore?
After we picked up the car from the shop, we stopped at the quick oil change place and got the transmission fluid drained and refilled. After all, Mr. Google said that might help. Of course, the fellows at the transmission shop said it wouldn’t. But since I’m not sure I trust them, we figured we didn’t have much to lose.
The fellows at the quick oil change place pressured me to have the car’s coolant changed. Also, that filthy cabin filter!
I’m sure it needs it. Except now, I’m thinking twice about doing any other maintenance on a car that might need a new transmission.
Incidentally, the car is still running great.
It’s all very confusing.
2 Comments
i have similar suspicions about those two areas of service! And a few more….goodness! Be safe!
Dang! Sounds like you have a good plan though; squeeze that car for all its worth!