Engine runs, no forward or reverse motion
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: McAllen, TX
Engine runs, no forward or reverse motion
I was on a highway doing 70 mph when all of a sudden the tach needle went to redline and the engine raced with no acceleration. I could feel that car was coasting, so I exited at the next ramp and rolled to a stop at a parking lot. The engine sounds strong, but it will not move in forward or reverse. I heard a slight "chatter" coming from under the passenger side at a stoplight immediately before this. I was next to an older car and dismissed it as being from the car. Does this sound like Torque Tube failure? The car is an '86 Auto. Thanks.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Dubuque, Iowa.
Have a look at the bottom of the torque converter housing to see if the converter is spinning, motor running and tranny in park. If the converter is not spinning your TT is probably shot.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: zürich, switzerland
I assume the auto box is full with fluid?
sudden failure sounds like TT or half shaft.
usually when TT fails then there is a lot of noise when you try to move forewards or backwards.
I think TT failure is relatively rare in S; relatively common in S4.
Marton
sudden failure sounds like TT or half shaft.
usually when TT fails then there is a lot of noise when you try to move forewards or backwards.
I think TT failure is relatively rare in S; relatively common in S4.
Marton
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The "won't roll in park" means the halfshafts are still intact, and the problem is forward of the parking pawl in the back of the transmission. The next test is the visual of the torque converter turning/not turning with the engine running. If the torque converter isn't spinning at engine speed, the torque tube/driveshaft has failed. After that, it looks more like a problem internal to the transmission.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
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From: Philly PA
you might get lucky and find the flex plate has cracked at the flywheel, you can verify this after the quick test of starting the engine and viewing the bottom of the trans where the grill slits are if you see the torque converter spinning then you have problems in the trans. Since the car wont roll in park this means the CV joints are both connected as the trans will hold them in place
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: McAllen, TX
I finally decided to climb up under the car and take a look at it. I started it up and took a mirror and looked into the notch and could see rotation at engine speed. I cleaned the transmission fluid bottle and it looked full, so i opened the cap and about a half pint of fluid gushed out. This after only running the engine a couple of minutes. The fluid looked clean. Any advice on what to check next or what I might be in for? Thanks
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If a half shaft had come lose - as did on my car at very low speed - you would have heard loud banging of the shaft against anything in its vincity. In fact, you'd probably have severe damage to the rear suspension, if that had happened at 70mph.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Southwest
Hey Henry,
I thought the Texas gang would've already got you back on the road
Keep this thread alive with updates and I'm sure you'll get the advice needed
Or, just fly me out for some tex mex and rita's and I'll get you squared away
I thought the Texas gang would've already got you back on the road
Keep this thread alive with updates and I'm sure you'll get the advice needed
Or, just fly me out for some tex mex and rita's and I'll get you squared away
Under the Lift
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What were you looking at in the "notch"? Was it the torque tube shaft? Look further back at the torque converter - the big round thing in front of the tranny. There is a grate in the bottom of the torque converter cover through which it is easy to see the converter spinning...or not.
Under the Lift
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When the engine is not running, the fluid level is way high, held in by the cap seal. Once the car is running, the fluid level should fall very quickly to the lower mark on the reservoir and gradually rise to just under the upper mark when it is warmed up. To me, what you observed is a sign that something that should be pumping the tranny fluid out of the pan is not doing so. Check whether the torque converter is spinning with the engine on.
