Toyota Repair: Trans, 4 quarts, toyota camry

Question
I noticed a leak on the ground after backing out of a snow filled driveway. I thought it was trans fluid so I asked the sec guard to check the levels. He said they looked o.k. but when I went into town it started smoking under the hood, so I checked the trans fluid myself and it was bone dry. Put a quart of fluid in, back on the road, a few miles down the road it appears as though the fluid leaked right out and ignited a fire on the street under my car. I stopped the car, and two men quickly put the fire out, no damage from that Thank God, so a few people on the scene agree i have a broken line. I have it towed to the garage, and they tell me they put 4 quarts of fluid in the trans and it's not moving at all. Ofcourse there is still the broken something or other and they refuse to push it into the garage to see what's really wrong and claim they don't work on trans after they put 4 quarts of fluid in. I believe it can be fixed, but I need your advice. The car was still driving before I stopped to get out, and the engine starts up beautiful. My car is a 1992 toyota camry sedan V6. Thanks for your help.

Girl in Need

Answer
Dear Girl In Need,

I'm glad that there was no serious injuries or damage. The transmission fluid lines are made of rubber tubing and run from the transmission to the bottom of the radiator. The bottom tank of your radiator acts as the trans cooler for your car. It is very possible that you have a cracked or split trans line, but if your trans was 'bone dry' as you stated, I'm surprised that the car would be able to drive. The shop that claims they put 4 quarts of fluid in it...did they start it after they filled it to check for leaks?