Here is the "trip" report.
Left Friday night with my son. While driving through Williamsport, the engine of the van started to make acceleration sounds without the corresponding acceleration that I am used to. Pulled off the first exit and rolled into Wal-mart parking lot. I got out and looked underneath and a puddle was already formed on the pavement. The leak was coming from the hard lines that connect to the trany cooler. Obviously rusted.
Since it was after 10 pm and fixing a trany is new to me, I called AAA. They towed me to AAMCO. My thoughts were get the hardlines repaired and be on my way. Since the door at AAMCO did not have Sat. hours I asked the driver, who called his boss, and assured me they are open on Sat (you all know where this is going).
Sat. morning.... no one shows up at 8 or 8:30. Call AAA again (hey the towed me to a closed facility, they would tow me to an open one wouldn't they). I am informed that policy is that they will not tow from a repair facility unless the shop tells them its OK. And would you believe, the closed repair shop did not answer the phone and tell them its OK so they would not tow me.
So I walked to Advanced Auto, bought some hose, hose clamps, and trany fluid and bypassed the leaking hard lines. No leaks after filling the trany with over a gallon of fluid. That was kind of a red flag. Not long after getting on our way it was obvious more was wrong than low fluid. So I call AAA again and since I am not at a repair facility, they will tow me now.
So Sean picked us up and took the trailer back home and we drank beers on the porch at my house. The van will have the trany rebuilt soon. And I learned that the burned smell of AT fluid means more than just AT fluid is burnt, there are other wondrous and mysterious parts that are roasted as well.
And we have plans for the next RC trip and I wont be able to make it...
