update: i had the van towed directly from their store to Japanese Car Service across town because i did not trust that they had done what they said they would. they told me the transmission line problem was fixed and assured me it was good to drive.\n\ngood thing i had it towed. \n\nJapanese Car Service told me that the car was leaking fluid so badly that they had no idea to tell what it was. they said that it'd cost $180 to just clean it up and replace the transmission fluid hose before they could check on any other leak. i told them to go ahead and do those repairs.\n\nafter that was done they called back to say they could not see any further additional leak but mentioned that the lug nuts on the front tire was not the right kind and it was dangerous to drive it that way. they are going to replace them for us for just a few bucks.\n\nthe fact the lug nuts were bad was a surprise because Firestone had told us the same thing a while back and had told us that they were going to replace them with the right part.\n\ni general do not attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence, so this is some of the biggest incompetence i've ever been the recipient of.\n\nit's a good thing i've found an honest mechanic even if it is across town.