Let me give you a little background to begin.

Two years ago I had my jeep's transmission serviced at a shop here in Duluth, mn because I had put a big dent in the pan and it needed to be replaced. While getting it replaced I thought it would be a good time to get it serviced as well. Long story short, I drove it less than 100 miles after the service before she burned up because the shop had stuffed some stuff into the cooler line and the transmission overheated to the point of no return on the freeway. When we blew out the cooler lines...some strange crap came out. At that point, I didn't trust anyone to put in a new trans for me, so me and a few friends did it ourselves. Great learning experience and saved $2000 over what a shop would have charged, but I never want to do it again.

Also two years ago, my honda's check engine light came on and the code identified a problem with a clutch sensor in the transmission. I called Honda and they said the computer will override the sensor and it wasn't a big deal to wait a while before I fixed it. I have yet to fix it and the Honda has 130k miles on it with no noticeable shifting problems at all. I have no idea when the fluid was changed last either, maybe 60 or 90k. Is this the best option with transmissions? Do nothing, and they will love you? Try to service them and they will destroy themselves?? What the heck?

So, that brings me to my VX story...

Last week, I got a brilliant idea to do a transmission fluid change on the VX, myself since we see how it goes at a shop. I got a new filter, two new gaskets and amsoil ATF. The good stuff! We changed everything out, put in the new fluid, followed the directions, and the VX seemed to shift maybe a bit better than normal. Until today. As I'm coming up the hill in Duluth, it misses shifting from 3rd to 4th and just revs. Not a good sign, I know. So I get her home and expect it to be the transmission fluid was low....only to open the fill plug and get some fluid dripping out of the pan. I did some research on the forum here and it says when the trans starts missing 4th that I should be prepared to rebuild my transmission. Here is where all you brilliant folks need to advise me.... Is there anything I can do/try before resolving to get the transmission rebuilt? I cannot afford it, which means that the VX will sit in storage for years to come. I really don't like that option...

What can I do? Should I try to stuff more fluid in the trans? Should there have been more coming out, more than drips, more of a flow? Can I put the Lucas anti-slip stuff in? Should I drain the pan and add that amount of new fluid back including a bottle of the lucas stuff since my flush wasn't exactly complete more of just a drain and refill? Are all these things delaying the inevitable? if so, how long can i delay it? What are my options...the VX is my favorite vehicle, but will be put away to be a toy in the future if the only solution is rebuilding...

(115k for miles, no idea the last time the fluid was changed but it was pretty dark coming out. No shavings in the pan when we cleaned it up. Fluid dripping out still looks a bit brown, with a red tint)

Help me please...and thank you all! For now, I have a new lawn ornament until I figure out what to do with her