Water got into the tranny, that problem has been resolved after
replacing radiator and changing fluid several times. That
water-contaminated fluid was in there for a LONG time....couple of
months probably!  It seems to be shifting smoother than before! But
someone said that once the bands get wet, that is it.... the damage is
done, and they will fail soon.  Well, I don't really understand the
function of bands that well...I think they are something like
clutches. If so, then does that mean I will get a warning of impending
failure when the trany starts to slip changing gears?  IE, will the
tranny fail gradually, or catastrphically, if indeed the bands are
damaged?