I think my tranny is toast.

I bet what happen was in 3rd gear at a stop the torque converter was slipping so much you thought it was in 1st gear. After all some of these newer cars take off about as fast in 1st gear as a old fashion hot rod takes off in 3rd gear, ha ha.

I'v been told though that is hard on the trans taking off in 3rd or 2nd gear--no matter how slow. From a stop always use 1st gear.