Okay still trying to get my to do list together and now I notice that I'm losing fluid somewhere. I don't see a leak, but three times in the last month or so I've had to put in a quart. The first time it was shifting a little hard put in a quart and it was fine, then just to be safe check the fluid level again and was low, so I assumed I just didn't put in enough the first time. This time once again needed a quart so I loked for leak but found none. I felt what I thought was fluid around the pan behind the oil pan but didn't look like tranny fluid. Could it possibly be leaking somewhere and buring off, or is it leaking at the gasket so slow that it doesn't show on the ground?

have you checked to see if its leakin between the drive shaft and the tranny housing?

I have no idea where that would be exactly, but I will try to check again thoroughly this afternoon. You wouldn't be able to describe where I should look could you?

Not being sarcastic here...just trying to explain it as simply as possible.

I am assuming you know where the tranny is located..On the driver side of the motor. The tranny on a front wheel drive car like this actually (when you look you'll see it) has a section that extends behind the motor (between motor and firewall). Out of both ends ot the transmission are thick looking rods with black boots near each end. (cv joint boots, not work boots...sorry...little humor there) These thick rods with the boots are your axles. Follow them into the transmission...are you leaking fluid there?

What color was that fluid you found on the transmission pan (that other pan behind the oil pan is the tranny pan) If it'* brownish but has any red tint...that'* tranny fluid and you probably have never changed it, so it turns brownish.

Well after reading your post I went out after work and started moving things around and jacking things up to get a better look. Found nothing. Finally went back to the pan to make sure it was tranny fluid, it was. Started wondering if a screw or two was loose and sh--! every last bolt was over a full turn loose. Read that it happened to someone in an old post but they said it had been tampered with. I'll need to clean things off under there to be sure that its fixed. Thanks for your help and keep your fingers crossed.

I sure hope you didn't over torque them...Those bolts aren't really torqued too much on spec.

I don't think I did. I was only barely able to reach them because i didn't have ramps. Even still I could turn them easily with just my fingertips on the ratchet. I will have my friend who is a real mechanic check it out after work. I probably should invest in a torque wench , huh?

I bought two, a 3/8 drive that is lower torque and a 1/2 drive that goes pretty high. Have never regretted spending the money on either of them... Both are the craftsman clicking type. Meaning that when you get to the desired torque they click.

I have a friend the does callibation validation on tools, and he says most people misuse those type of torque wrenches. The valid torque setting is only good at the first click. If you keep cranking on it , making it go click-click-click etc, you are over-torquing it. He show me this on his calibation machine. Pretty impressive demonstation. He showed me a 1/2 drive, set at 100 lbs.. After 5 clicks it was actually doing 125 lbs. after one click it showed 95 lbs. he gave me the wrench because it failed calibration and was out of warranty and he couln't use it. I needed one and it would be close enough for me, understanding the one click rule.

Reading the directions is a good thing. The proper usage is no extensions, no angles, then you slowly apply more pressure (gently) til it clicks....do not push past...stop at the click.

If you do something properly you will be rewarded with success. If you screw up...you've screwed up.