Showerthought: I spent 3 years blaming my automatic transmission for rough shifts when it was just low fluid

So last Tuesday I was sitting in my driveway in Phoenix after a long commute, frustrated that my 2015 sedan kept jerking between 2nd and 3rd gear. I had been telling myself for years it was a dying transmission. My buddy who works at a shop came over to borrow my jack, I complained about it, he pops the hood and checks the fluid... it was almost a quart low. Topped it off right there and the thing shifts smooth as butter now. Three years of assuming the worst and it was the simplest thing. Has anyone else found they totally overthought a transmission issue that turned out to be something basic like low fluid or a dirty filter?

3 comments

3 Comments

jana7697d ago

Told my neighbor the same thing when his truck was lurching. I mean it just needed a quart and some Lucas and it's been fine for a year. Way cheaper than a rebuild.

wells.christopher7d ago

Just needed a quart and some Lucas" - that's basically the mechanic's version of "have you tried turning it off and on again." Ain't broke if it works.

josephbailey7d ago

@jana769 why waste money when a quart will do?