'91 Olds Regency-- DOA Tranny or something else to look for?

[dandyd]

While turning a corner today, I heard popping noise, then the car slowed and would only move about 2-3 mph. This continued for about 1/2 mile until I could turn into a parking lot, and the car completely stopped. Engine runs fine, just won't move. I've had no transmission slippage or odd noise....this just happened out of the blue. I had it towed home, and upon jacking up the front end it appears the axles are in tact. When I spin one side with my hand the other side will spin as well. When starting the car with wheels elevated, and put in the gear the front wheels will spin in forward direction, but will not spin at all in reverse. When put on the ground, still car will not move, even tho wheels spin while elevated. I'm assuming something broke in the transmisison...BUT could it be something else (CV Joints/ Torque Conv.) that I should check? This transmission has about 175k on it since it a rebuild about a dozen years ago (I've gotten use out of it).

[myfirstbonnie]

Is it making any noises when it is trying to move? The bad thing with a transmossion, other than the TC, it has to come apart to find what broke. You could do a pan drop and I bet you will fond metal. On these transmissions, there is no diff cover, it is molded in with the case. When you turn the one wheel while in the air, does the other one go the same direction or opposite?

[dandyd]

It turns in the opposite direction....and there is a very slight sound like a belt rubbing against something. I've never seen a Tranny just suddenly doe something like this. Prior, there was no noises, no slippage etc....

[MattStrike]

I hate to be the one to do this, but are you sure the lines to the radiator haven't burst, and you checked to make sure there was enough fluid in it?

The symptom (wheels turn with no load) is a indication that there isn't enough pressure in the lines to fully engage the clutches. Does it have all 4 gears when the wheels are off the ground? If so, you had a clutch piston seal failure (most likely, there are also other seals that will cause this).

Could also be a differential failure. Have a friend hold the other tire still and see if you can spin one, etc...

[dandyd]

First thing I did was check fluid, and it was within specs. Additionally, there is not signs of fluid loss anywhere. Thanks for the additional info. Any other ideas would be appreciated.

[dandyd]

Wheels will only spin if both front tires are lifted off the ground, when only one off the ground and it's in park the single wheel does not spin. When engine started, wheels off the ground and engaged, both wheels spin, but does not go thru any gears. When wheels on the ground car will not move. I'm thinking Tranny is toast. Just strange that it gave me no warning, slipping etc... before it went.

[MattStrike]

Given that it will not work through the gears with the wheels off the ground and the differential appears to be working I'd say you've got hard parts failure in the trans. I'd guess the bands/apply pistons or the drive chain. Hard parts are often sudden failures without warning, accompanied by noises only sometimes.

[00Beast]

My reverse band up and quit one day, so yeah, hard parts.

[dandyd]

Lots of miles. 1st Rebuild at 108k, now has 281k. It's served me well....but we can't afford another car, nor a traditional rebuild. Therefore, we'll head to our local Pick and Pull to try to find the best tranny out of a wrecked car. They sell them for $100 + $30 core. That's about the only way we can go at this time. At other times I've seen newly rebuilt tranny's there, and the car wrecked shortly after....that'd be ideal.