On my way to work this morning. Red light turns green, I push the pedal, loud bang ... And I'm just coasting. Engine still running smooth, but no gears. Coast to a stop in the median, still running smooth, all gauges read right and no idiot lights. Had her towed, and that mechanic calls later after cursory exam to pronounce tranny dead. No gears, but will hold in park. A transmission mechanic I know hints that it could be axle related. Bonnie is currently at the shop, so I cannot looksee myself.

Tranny was working perfectly before loud bang - smooth as glass, strong, positive shifting to all gears, quiet as a mouse. No hint of pending catastrophe. It is a rebuild with 150k on it, last serviced 8k ago. Car and engine have 240k but look and act like new, inside and out. This is an amazing car and I love it.

So ... Is it time to say good night, Bonnie?

If it is indeed the tranny, I can have an 80k-mile boneyard tranny with 6 mo warranty installed for $1,250. Any tranny I find he'll install for $450. If it's not the tranny, what could it be and how much $repair am I looking at? Pull-a-part will give me $315 sight unseen. On Craigslist for $800 as is. But I really don't want to sell it.

Sounds like it may be a C/V axle, but if it doesn't roll in park I'm betting the chain in the trans broke. If you like the car, and the trans has been rebuilt, fix the one you have (warranty on the rebuild?). Do you have a spot to fix it yourself? Put the used one in while you fix the old one?

_________________
Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

I am thinking a sprag failure, that would definitely make a bang and then have no gears at all. Axles are definitely good if it will hold in park but makes zero noise or attempt to move while in gear.

Had a sprag fail in my old '93 SSEi, same thing - bang then no movement at all. Only clue was before it completely failed of you revved it over about 1,500 RPM in neutral or park it would make a pop sound like two hammers hitting each other.

_________________
Ryan

2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one

When my sprag failed, it just lost 3rd gear until after I stopped and it locked up the trans. It did make a loud bang when it broke and the trans unlocked. But that was the 2-3 sprag. I imagine that the sprag next to the differential could cause any of these symptoms as well, I didn't even think of the sprags, good call Ryan.

_________________
Boost addict


The Fleet:
'93 SSEi - Twincharged + manual Build thread
'97 Camaro - Top swap
'05 STS - V8, AWD, her DD
'92 Trofeo - Fair weather DD
'99 Montana - top swap 3800
'04 Sierra 2500HD - LLY Duramax

Current project:
Something cool, trust me.

Upcoming projects:
'92 Bonneville SSE
'87 LeSabre T-type
'67 LeSabre

Gone to greener pastures:
'84 Sierra Classic - Twin turbo 3800
'97 LeSabre - Top swap

RIP:
'86 LeSabre - pictures
'93 SE - L67

Chain or sprag, I'm looking at a rebuild or replace, right?

Actually I take that back, mine was a sprag failure, but because of the sprag failure it stripped the splines on the output hub to the differential, I will find the thread from when I rebuilt it. Basically the sprag failed and locked when. It should have been spinning free... bye bye movement lol.

If the chain broke you could possibly get away with a new chain and be on your way, but if you are gonna go that far you might as well rebuild anyway. If it is a sprag failure a rebuild is definitely in order.

_________________
Ryan

2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one

Here it is, pics included of the damage - general-chat/topic19522.html?hilit=transmission

_________________
Ryan

2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD!
2002 Bonneville SE - The Mutt Complete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD
2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH
1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one

Guys, thank you so much for your time and knowledge. In a nutshell, you helped me make a very tough decision. Craigslist came through for me, and the old girl that's been in the family since new now belongs to someone else. I'm gonna miss her!