I have a 1992 Chevy Lumina APV. My radiator was leaking, so I put in a bottle of stop leak, and filled up the radiator with water. I ran the engine for under 10 minutes, when the mixture resumed leaking from the right side of the radiator. I tried backing up, only to find I now have no reverse gear and when I put my car in neutral it goes forward! However, it still works in drive. Are these two problems related, or is it just a coincidence?
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Not related. You need to get that to a garage.
Stop leak is a bad solution. You can probably get your radiator repaired for less than $200 at a radiator shop. The radiator does more than cool the engine, it also cools the transmission. DO NOT DRIVE the car until you have a radiator shop look at it. You may have water in your transmission and water does not lubricate! Look at your transmissin dipstick. If it is cloudy pink you have a trans problem. A flushing and cleaning could fix this if you don’t drive it.
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it is not related but you should check the fluid in the ****** sounds like it is low
It is just a coincidence. The radiator has nothing to do with an automatic transmissions. Radiator is for cooling the engine. I think, there is something wrong with your automatic gear syncronizer inside the gear box. Let a competent auto mechanic check your transmission.
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its a coincidence, Your radiator is cracked or leaking at the seams. It needs to be replaced as soon as possible. As for your trans. going forward in reverse take it to a certified trans shop. It’s probably an electrical problem.
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It is possible on your front wheel drive vehicle that the coolant you are leaking from the radiator, if the leak is severe enough, has sprayed onto the Transmission Range sensor. The coolant could have gotten into the connector and caused it to short circuit, making an electrical problem. You should have the leak repaired, and also have the Transmission range sensor checked for damage.
it is a coincidence. When Transmissions start to go out, usually the 1st thing to go is Reverse. Sounds like it is time for a new car as based on the value of yours, the cooling problem and the cost of a new/rebuilt trans will be over $1,700.00.