I come here because I know nothing about automatic transmissions. My buddies 93 civic quit transferring power to the wheels while he was driving. I get to it, start it up and drive around the parking lot at the gas station he happened to roll into and thought nothing was wrong. It wasn't until I applied the brakes that the transmission quit doing its job. At this point, the transmission will not move in any gear. 1,2,D3, or reverse. I should add here that if let sit, and then restarted, the car will continue to drive, until the brakes are again applied. The parking brake/pin does engage so I don't believe the linkage to be the problem, but I will check it out tomorrow as I have towed the car to my home. I said all of that to ask this ; what are these symptoms of? My first thought was torque convertor and due to my limited knowledge of automatic transmissions that was my only thought on the matter. Thanks in advance for any input/information

 

Check fluid level and viscosity, for it to move and suddenly stop sounds like a fluid level problem. Check for leaks.

A failed converter will still move a vehicle, just very poorly.

Does this problem occur when you hit the brakes while in second gear (or third) and then you can no longer move? If so, and the fluid level is still good, pump output is in question.

The fluid level and condition give a lot of clues.

 

I knew there was something I was forgetting. My first assumption was he was probably out of atf I checked it and its full. It doesn't seem to be dirty or contaminated. The fluid is a reddish brown color. It was slightly thicker than oil but I don't think it was as thick as it should have been. This problem occurs is any gear. It just so happened that when the problem presented itself that he had just shifted into 2 from d3 at a stop. He drove through second gear, shifted into d3 and that's when he lost the power.

EDIT: it doesn't happen when you apply the brakes. It just happens on its own? I went out, and shifted through the gear range, moved inches forward and backward, pushed brakes,changed gears. It doesn't seem to be effected by the brakes at all actually.

 

Oil pump output is highly suspect if the fluid level is correct.

When did this problem start, and does it produce any noise or vibration?

 

No noises or vibrations. The problem showed itself for the first time the day before my op. When you say oil pump your speaking of the pump in the transmission that supplies the torque convertor? I have since posting this thread started pulling the motor/trans combo.

 

The transmission pump operates everything in the transmission that requires hydraulic pressure. What was the fluid level before removal?

Your oil pump is either damaged, or the pressure regulator circuit (throttle circuit) is defective. I would lean towards the latter if the transmission was in fact, full. A full inspection on disassembly will tell the tale.