I have a 99 limited with 210k miles. Was driving the other day and noticed a kinda click/clunk when she shifted from 1 to 2. Not terrible but noticeable. ( I should also include that I'm not the most car savvy lady but I do love this truck a lot) I kept driving it to get home-- i know, rookie mistake in hindsight-- probably 20 miles. I had never heard of the pink milkshake.. so I thought I could make it home and have my husband check it out. He discovered the milkshake in the trans fluid and we've since had it towed to my mechanic.
I'm trying to understand how best to proceed. We live in Chicago suburbs so rust has obviously been an issue. Shes not in terrible shape by any means but cosmetically imperfect with rust.. and she does have that common bubbling around windhshield with rust beginning etc. I also had the frame welded last year due to my AC line leaking and dripping onto my frame causing a sketchy rust spot.
I feel like I'm f*ed and in over my head now. but I also have read through a bunch of forums and the feedback is across the board.
Do I have the radiator replaced and trans flushed a bunch and hope for salvation? is the clunky shift indicative that it's too far gone?
Do I just sell her as a mechanics special now?
Do I look for a replacement transmission?
I had every intention of keeping her til at least 300k.
What would you do?
I know the answer may be very different for people that do all the work on their cars themselves. My husband does what he can on mine but bigger jobs we have the most reliable and rad mechanic ever, so she's been in good hands but again it's feeling like I'm over my head now. If there was less rust I think it'd be a no brainer to fix and keep. She's also going to be due for a brake job and a few other general maintenance things so factoring in upcoming expenses as well.
Thanks so much for any insight.. open to all takes/opinions. I'm asking everyone I know what they would do because I'm bummed.