Ok, I don't agree that this is the best selling minivan, I regret my decision to buy it in the first place, but it was cheap and that's what mattered to me.

So on to the problem at hand.

We'll go back to the spring when I first started having transmission trouble.

The mechanic had told me there was nothing to worry about, but my boss suggested that the transmission was slipping when shifting wasn't smooth anymore.

Well, I put in fluid, but that didn't help, and come June, it died on me right in the middle of a busy streetcar line. Couldn't move it at all, not even in neutral.

Got a tow to the mechanic and was told it was seized and needed to be replaced or rebuilt.

We didn't have the time to have it rebuilt, and there were no rebuilts available for purchase, so the mechanic picked up a used transmission for $700 and change. Charged over $600 for labor.

It seemed fine after that, but it didn't take hills too well, and is extremely sluggish in the colder temperatures.

Fast forward to today. A mechanic told a friend of mine who took it in for an oil change that there was something wrong with it. He didn't tell him enough and I didn't think anything of it.

So I checked the level today, it was all but empty, and went to refill it. As I was pouring the fluid in, it sounded like it was flooding out, and sure enough, everything I'd put in had just leaked out the bottom.

I don't know what my options are, it seems like a severe leak as a few parts underneath are soaked, but I can't get a good look until tomorrow, all this happened in the dark.

Any ideas? I'm desperate, I'd rather not put any more money into this piece of junk, it's been a hassle almost from the start.

I've had it for 3 years. In that time, I've replaced the starter twice, brakes several times, tie rods and ends a few times, oil gaskets once, radiator hoses once, water pump and fan belts once, and most of this happened within months of each other.

Any advice is appreciated as I'm at the end of my rope.

 

Ok, I don't agree that this is the best selling minivan, I regret my decision to buy it in the first place, but it was cheap and that's what mattered to me.
It is the best selling.... best meaning it sold more than any other van...
So on to the problem at hand.
ok
We'll go back to the spring when I first started having transmission trouble.
bummer
The mechanic had told me there was nothing to worry about, but my boss suggested that the transmission was slipping when shifting wasn't smooth anymore.
should have found a better mechanic
Well, I put in fluid, but that didn't help, and come June, it died on me right in the middle of a busy streetcar line. Couldn't move it at all, not even in neutral.
did it need more fluid? did you install the right fluid?
Got a tow to the mechanic and was told it was seized and needed to be replaced or rebuilt.
yep seized would require rebuild or replace
We didn't have the time to have it rebuilt, and there were no rebuilts available for purchase, so the mechanic picked up a used transmission for $700 and change. Charged over $600 for labor.
really none available, are you located in a foreign country? wow that labor rate comes out over $150/hr. Book time on trans R&R is 4hrs. Search www.car-part.com for used trans price.
It seemed fine after that, but it didn't take hills too well, and is extremely sluggish in the colder temperatures.
??? sluggish??? that's more of an engine related problem did you have any one of quality mechanical aptitude diagnose this problem?
Fast forward to today. A mechanic told a friend of mine who took it in for an oil change that there was something wrong with it. He didn't tell him enough and I didn't think anything of it.
Sounds like you needed to follow up and ask more questions
So I checked the level today, it was all but empty, and went to refill it. As I was pouring the fluid in, it sounded like it was flooding out, and sure enough, everything I'd put in had just leaked out the bottom.
99.9% chance you have a broken differential pin which broke the case which caused fluid to poor out
I don't know what my options are, it seems like a severe leak as a few parts underneath are soaked, but I can't get a good look until tomorrow, all this happened in the dark.
you don't know your options? 1 get it fixed, 2 junk it, 3 sell it, 4 ignore the problem and maybe it will go away. 5 push it down a cliff and collect insurance money, 6 donate it to a charity and take the tax deduction. etc.
Any ideas? I'm desperate, I'd rather not put any more money into this piece of junk, it's been a hassle almost from the start.
pretty much all cars are be a piece of junk and a lot of hassle.
I've had it for 3 years. In that time, I've replaced the starter twice, new or used? brakes several times must live in a very hilly area or are very hard on brakes waiting to the last second and pound hard on them, tie rods and ends a few times rough roads, hard cornering, curb shots? , oil gaskets once NORMAL maintenance, radiator hoses once NORMAL maintenance, water pump NORMAL maintenance and fan belts once NORMAL maintenance, and most of this happened within months of each other things are designed to wear out about the same time. 100,000 miles tends to be the magic number for having to fix stuff. if you want to have less problems, get a bus pass or buy a NEW car with a warranty then trade it off just before the warranty expires.

Any advice is appreciated as I'm at the end of my rope. all advice in red but I'm sure you won't appreciate any of it. .

 

as said above TOTALLY AGRREE. maintainance and the right mechanic. why would your mechanic let your friend even drive it away with that severe issue as no oil in the tranny. i assume he knows ya coming back?

 

Hmm, one of the best and reliable mechanics in the city, D.O.T certified. Taxi repair, and you know how rough taxi drivers can be.

Wasn't at the same time, was about a month down the road.

Was actually about 6 hours. Busy shop, mine wasn't the only vehicle there.

Sloppy gear shifting especially when engine hadn't warmed up enough, not enough power to change gears, especially on hills.

Driving is my job, I've put over 65,000km on it since buying it 3 years ago. Winter driving, in the snow, driving in the rain, etc. I never slam on the brakes unless it's an emergency, I have always braked smoothly.

With that attitude, I probably wont return to this forum.

 

Hmm, one of the best and reliable mechanics in the city, D.O.T certified. Taxi repair, and you know how rough taxi drivers can be.
and we are suppose to know this because????? just given the statement you first posted you came across as having a bad mechanic

Wasn't at the same time, was about a month down the road.
ok, but did you use the right fluid?
Was actually about 6 hours. Busy shop, mine wasn't the only vehicle there.
then you were over charged. book time is 4hrs, even at 6hrs they charged you $100/hr, what is their shop rate?

Sloppy gear shifting especially when engine hadn't warmed up enough, not enough power to change gears, especially on hills. transmission isn't going to cause a lack of power climbing hills. power comes from the engine.

Driving is my job, I've put over 65,000km on it since buying it 3 years ago. Winter driving, in the snow, driving in the rain, etc. I never slam on the brakes unless it's an emergency, I have always braked smoothly. then it's IMPOSSIBLE to need 2 sets of brake pads if you drive easy. I get nearly 100,000 MILES per set of brake pads.

With that attitude, I probably wont return to this forum.
you were given honest answers for your question. sorry if they were not the answers you wanted to make you feel better. and someone else agreed with them.