hellstorm

so driving into work today......>sniff sniff<

smelling transmission fluid...not good.

I look at my exhaust....its white. that's not right.

since I have my cruise control on, I turn it off to coast.....the RPM's go down, but the car doesn't downshift.

crap.

pull off to the side of the road, shut off the engine. its still smoking some.

hey, look it here, there's transmission fluid droplets on the ground behind my car. and a whole bunch under the car.

make a few phone calls, get a ride to work, step-father gets AAA to tow the car....he noted "Pink transmission fluid" on the ground.

not purple, but pink.

my guess.....new radiator, as a cooling hose cracked.

damn.....8 years old, 90,000 miles. WTF!

what do you think?

EDIT:

so what happened? radiator has 2 tanks (3/4 of the radiator for coolant, 1/4 for transmission fluid). the tanks are both plastic...it cracks, fluids mix and bingo!

quote from the shop.....$1500 to $1900 for transmission rebuild (depending on damage) and $350 for new radiator and flushes...so $1850 to $2250 parts and labor total.....f-me!!!