My life as of late.

I know it's been a few weeks since my last post, but things haven't been interesting until the last week. My truck developed a whine in the transmission and after getting a few different opinions a friend and I decided we would change the transmission filter and fluid. We went to a "Chain" parts store and purchased the transmission filter and pan gasket. When the counter person said that the computer recommended DEX-6, a synthetic transmission fluid we were a little sceptical, but we trusted the counter person and the computer. BOY! were we wrong. After installing the new filter, gasket, and fluid we started the truck and took it for a test drive. It seemed to work well and the whine was gone. We thought it was good until we got on the highway. The transmission started to slip and the longer we drove it, the worse it got. We drove it about 30 miles and the transmission didn't have drive, or over-drive. We limped the truck back to my friends house and thought we would check the filter. The filter for this model of truck does have a tendency to fall out of place because it is not screwed in place, but held in place by an "O" ring. We let the transmission cool and then loosened the bolts a little to drain some of the fluid out in order to check the filter. To our surprise, the new fluid was BLACK! Now for those of you who don't know, fresh transmission fluid is a color somewhere between a light pink to medium red. After 30-40 miles mine was jet black and it shouldn't be. After calling the Chevy dealer we found out that my truck uses DEX-3, a traditional transmission fluid, and that DEX is an optional upgrade if you're replacing the transmission and for trucks 2002 and newer. My truck is a 1996 and uses DEX-3. We came to find out that mixing DEX-3 and DEX-6 caused the clutch packs and the gear bands to disintegrate, thus the drive and over-drive not working. NICE!
At this point I was not overjoyed at the "Chain" parts store for not knowing the difference, or informing me that my truck originally used Dex-3, and that DEX-6 was an upgrade if I was having any major transmission work done, but I guess I am somewhat to blame for not checking into it myself.
Now here is the real kicker, I called the transmission shops in town and the lowest price I got was $1600-$2000 to rebuild it and $2000-$2500 for a replacement. At first I wanted to sue the parts store for giving me the wrong fluid and causing my transmission to fail, until the tech at the transmission shop said that because my transmission has 249,000 miles on it, it might just be a case of bad timing. Since I didn't know when the last time the transmission filter and fluid was changed, being that I've had the truck less than a year, the transmission may have been on it's way out, and when I changed fluid it just decided to die then. Perfect timing I guess. Now some people say I could still go after the parts store, and some don't. I'm not sure what to do on that subject.
On getting the transmission fixed, my friend who helped me with my filter and fluid just had his transmission redone by a guy his boss knows for cost of the parts. He talked to this guy and he said he would work on mine for the cost of parts, but he won't be able to get to it for a week or so. The complete rebuild kit for my transmission is $400. I told him that I would pay him another $400 for his time and he is fine with that. Hmmm, I'm thinking $800 is better than $1600-$2000 any day. Now I have a A Chevy Cavalier Z24 that is being worked on by an aquaintence, but that is a whole other post. With not wanting to drive the truck anymore than I have to so I do not do more damage the transmission before it can be worked on, and not having the Cavalier either, I bought a 1998 Jeep Cherokee from a friend that owns an auto salvage yard yesterday. It does have a few issues but is has all it's gears and seems pretty sturdy.

Now, being that I was stuck in town all weekend, I decided to help the friend who helped me with my truck move a refrigerator. While doing that I pulled something in my back. Did I forget to mention that I had Back Surgery in 1994 and was supposed to have another one in 1999? Well I never had the second one and had been doing fine all these years just watching what I did. In October of last year I acquired a Hernia and have been tending to it lately. Well, when we were getting ready to move the fridge from the truck I was only thinking of my Hernia. I didn't give my back much thought because it hasn't hurt bad in years until after we got the fridge on his deck.
So today is Wednesday. I have a truck that needs transmission work, a hernia, and back that hurts, but a new Jeep. Life is Good!