It's binding of the parking pawl. Don't do that. And always use the parking brake unless you like gambling that you'll be repairing or replacing the transmission after some clown hits and runs in a parking lot.

 

Yup. Not good. Will comply. :-)

To the original poster: any new developments?

 

Nope haha. I've been working some overtime this weekend so I will start working on this stuff next weekend. I'll probably just start with the easiest/cheapest thing on the list everyone supplied and just keep going until it is fixed. Or I'll just take it in for a diagnostic.

 

Diagnostics at tranny shops are strange, it's been my experience. Examples follow:

Massive slippage= rebuild.
Hard shifts= rebuild.
Low fluid= rebuild.
Can't squeal tires for 1/4 mile= rebuild.

They REALLY wanna rebuild your tranny in other words. I'm sure there are good shops out there that will shoot you straight, but I bet there are more who only diagnose 'rebuild'. A good counter is to ask them what is wrong and why it's wrong instead of how to just fix it. If they pause more than a second and a half before answering you, or look away before starting to respond walk away. Find one who doesn't. Then tell me where THAT shop is at. ;-)

Good luck man. And btw, if you go the route I suggested and flush, ask the shop what equipment they use. You want it truly flushed, and not just drained. :-)