Last week, I took my daughter's Accord (134k miles) in for service at a shop that specializes in Hondasand was told that there was a leak in the radiator and that it would need to be replaced. I authorized the repairs. When I paid for the work, the mechanic commented that the car was in excellent shape and should last well over 200k miles. My daughter drove the car back to school (75 miles). When she returned home for the weekend, the car started making a "ratcheting" sound and jerky movements and then would not move. I had the car towed home and discovered that there was a serious transmission leak that had not been there before. I checked the transmission fluid level and nothing even registered on the dipstick. Prior to having the radiator replaced, the car never leaked (dripped) fluids of any kind. I am going to have the car checked by another repair shop that I have used in the past to see if they can determine the source of the leak. I am just guessing right now, but is it possible the coolant lines from the radiator to the transmission were not properly re-installed, causing fluid to escapeand run the transmission dry?

Thanks!

 

...Sorry...forgot to mention that it is an automatic transmission....

 

Sure its possible, those lines have to be disconnected & re-connected to the new radiator. Of course it's also possible something from the road caused the damage as she drove to school. It's hard to point fingers over the internet.

Someone (not the same shop, but notsomeone who hates that shop either) should look at it because we can't see it from here...

 

yes very real possibility. when I replaced the radiator on my 92, I hooked up the tranny lines lilke normal. after refilling the radiator and starting the car I noticed that there were 2 steady streams of red pumping from under the radiator, turns out the metal part of the lines werent screwed on tight enough.