Did you know that a transmission fluid pan needs a gasket? I was on my way to see my mother (2.5 hours south), but only made it half-way. I stopped at a rest area to let the dogs out for a minute when a man came up and said "ma'am, your car is smoking and there is fluid all over the hood." This was lucky, I would have never noticed! He happened to be a mechanic with a shop about 15 miles away, but my van needed a tow. His wife and kids were with him in a very, very old (beat up) car. He happened to have a tow rope and hooked up my van to his car. He insisted on steering my van. His wife and kids were very sick - she (wife) was young and not alert. The whole experience was a miracle (we didn't wreck on the freeway). It was late, it was very cold, the mechanic's garage was in the barrios and not heated. He said he only took cash and needed $400. I didn't have it, so he said "how much can you get out of your bank." He accepted $350 and installed a gasket and fluid. Wow, what an experience that was! I headed for home, broke, tired and cold - and arrived at 10:30PM.