Well I have a 1996 2.5 TL. I have been having some problems so I took it into the shop, they had diagnosed it as Transmission. So I paid $600 for a Transmission. They put it in and I had a call today that they BASICALLY misdiagnosed it as the Differential!!! I am so confused and pissed right now. Can someone help me out? I have to pay for the rest of the labor for the transmission still and come up with anothe $1000!!! HELP!

 

Man, I don't know what you could do. I guess you can't really do anything. I've heard of people having that happen to them and they were essentially obligated to pay. That's why I don't like to go to small shops, it's always better to go to a Honda or Acura dealer for bigger problems.

I guess that those mechanics are either really stupid or really smart.

 

I know!!! I guess what I am trying to get at is does the differential have the same effects as a transmission if it is having problems? To me the differential would have more affect on your axles and wheels not the noises and how it sounds like a transmission!!! Could someone help explain this to me?

 

What kind of problems were you having?

I'd assume a competent mechanic could tell the difference though.

 

The car was starting to slip gears a little bit, making a grinding noise, and under the hood was smelling bad. That is the best i can explain

 

I've got no idea how auto transmissions work, but that sounds like a clutch. I remember doing some stupid shit while being drunk with my old (manual) Camry. I was revving the engine to 3-4k rpm and trying to do a fast take off but since I was drunk I was holding the clutch midway and it was just fuckin' up. The point is; that shit makes a horrendous smell, which might be the same as yours.

 

Clutch packs, torque converter come to mind when reading your description.

~Cheers~

 

Definitely not a differential..