96 platinum turbo 850 wagon; flushed the transmission fluid a few hundred miles ago...while driving the other day car starts revving and acting like the transmission is dying. I smell ATF and I know something is up; I'm able to limp into a nearby gas station while I can still move. Open the hood and lo and behold, the top cooling line came off (I failed to clamp it correctly) and there is fluid sprayed all over the engine compartment. I reattached it (correctly this time) and added about 4 quarts to get back to proper level. So here's the question: did I damage anything by driving it a half mile or so with the fluid hemorrhaging? It was still able to move, slowly, and the rpm's never went over 3500. By the time I stopped it would not go into gear. After filling it back up, it seems to drive ok but going from 1st to 2nd seems a bit harder than before...thoughts?

 

I think its obvious, it ran out of fluid. Did you damage it, if it does not drive like it used too, yes.
Check the fluid again, what was left in the system might have burnt so a full flush again might help.

 

Thanks, Boxpin, I guess another flush is a small price to pay for my stupidity...