Transaxle help - I need a Doctor, Fluid looks like gold metal flake paint Options

[michael7810]

I don't know much about the history of my transaxle. About 10K miles ago (and 3 years) I had the shift input seal and bushing replaced and they changed the fluid at that time. He told me he used regular dino gear oil but I could not find the receipt. The work was performed by Stuttgart Southwest and they are a reputable 914 shop in the Phoenix area so I'm confident they did it properly and didn't see any anomalies. Other than I have to shift into 2nd carefully to avoid grinding (does not grind if I shift slowly into 2nd). Other gears shift OK and it is not noisy going down the road. So today I decided to change the fluid and what came out looked like someone mixed gold metal flake paint with gear oil. No chunks came that I could see. The drain plug magnet was pretty much covered with 1/8 to 1/4" slivers as well. I refilled it and took it for a test drive and it acted the same as always.

Not sure what to do next. It's just beginning to be driving season in Phoenix, this will be the first week with highs under 100F, so I would like to hold off an overhaul until next spring so I can enjoy driving it during the winter. Plus my daughter has twins on the way and most of my car fixin' time (and money) is spent helping them fix up the house before the babies arrive.

Of course if I need a trans now and anyone has a good side shift to sell I'm interested.

Thanks as always for the advice and abuse.

Mike