I had to travel for work unexpectedly and ended up being away for nearly five months, during which time my 2017 Ford Explorer just sat in the parking garage without being started or driven at all. I came back last week, started the car up, and everything seemed fine at first, but once I got out on the road I noticed the transmission shifting strangely, like it was holding gears too long and occasionally thumping into gear when I accelerated from a stop. I've heard that transmissions can develop issues from sitting for extended periods because the fluid drains away from the seals and components, and the valve body can get sticky from varnish buildup, but I'm not sure if that's actually what's happening or if there's something more serious going on. I've already checked the fluid level and it looks fine, no burnt smell or anything alarming, but the shifts still feel off and I'm worried about causing more damage by continuing to drive it without getting it checked out properly. A neighbour who's a bit of a car enthusiast suggested I take it to a gearbox specialist in sharjah that can do a full diagnostic scan and maybe a fluid flush with some additives to clean out the valve body, rather than just assuming the worst and going for a rebuild. I'm hoping it's just a case of the transmission adapting back to normal driving patterns and maybe needing a fluid service to get everything flowing properly again, but I'm also nervous because I don't want to ignore something that could turn into a major problem. Has anyone else dealt with transmission issues after leaving their car sitting for a long time, and did a simple fluid service and reset fix the problem, or did it turn out to be something more serious? I'd really appreciate some advice on what to expect because I'm not sure whether I should be preparing for a big repair bill or if this is something that can be sorted relatively easily.