Trying to help out my buddy. His 99' ex automatic has only 70k miles on it. Runs great. Driving down the road it just stopped moving. Engine runs fine but won't go into any gear. It has a slight wine sound coming from it as well. Does this sound like a torque converter? Anybody heard of this happening? thanks

 

Any ATF in the transmission?

 

Could be. Have you checked tranny fluid? Definately tranny related. Torque convertor or clutch packs... does he hot rod the holy **** out of it? Could be sheared splines, etc. Sounds like your pulling a tranny... Have you checked the tranny plug to see if metal shavings are coming out or attached to the magnet?

 

Also, any CELs?

 

One more thing, and it may sound stupid, but are your cv axles popped out of the diff?

 

^Worth checking

For example, does the speedometer needle rise in gear when the throttle pedal is pressed but the car does not move?

 

Thanks for replys.
He does not drive it hard at all!!
Fluid on the stick looks good and at good level.
Axles are in place.
The only slightly funny thing is that the tranny dip stick doesn't seem to hold firmly in it's place. Almost like it is too small but looks correct.
No CEL's
thanks

 

When your friend revs the engine with the car in gear, does the speedometer go up? If he puts the car in 2 or 3, does the problem persist?

 

They're all like that now, the rubber shrinks. A new dipstick will fit tightly.

 

I have the car at my place now. I went out to start it to see about the speedometer and it actually went into gear....for about 10 seconds. Then it just slips and doesn't go into any. No speedometer movement. I am thinking torque converter...any other ideas of what it could be?

 

It could also be a clutch pack. Try putting it in 2 or 3 and see if it moves.

 

It really doesn't matter which it is, you'll need both a torque converter and a transmission (or rebuild the one that's in it) you've got debris floating around replace 1 and expect to replace the other soon after, except by that point you've contaminated the new torque converter as well.

General rule of thumb: If using a used torque converter have a transmission shop cut it open and check/rebuild it, replace transmission or have it rebuilt, replace any inline filters (not applicable in this case) and flush the cooler.

 

Again, I tried every gear, it will no go. It looks like we will be changing tranny and torque converter then. thanks