My transmission seems to be working OK but it's started to whine. And the noise is getting louder. It's a 95 Altima with 145,000 miles. About 7,000 miles and 7 months ago, I had an oil seal replaced, which required taking the engine out to get to the problem. Before then, I never heard any transmission noise.
So, I have two basic questions:
- Would the mechanic have somehow damaged the transmission when he took out the engine to reach the leaking seal?
- How long is my transmission likely to last with this whine? Should I take it to a transmission shop now -- is there some inexpensive fix that could be done? Or does this mean that my transmission will need some major work, and I might as well drive it as long as I can before shelling out the money> Or is it time to ditch the car?
It boils down to this -- did someone mess up my car, or is this just a factor of wear and tear? And what should I do about it?
Thanks so much for any guidance you can give.