Car experts talk to me

MajorCaptSilly · 11-23-2013, 05:59 PM

My son was driving home from school in his 2003 Ford Explorer. About 60 miles from home, the truck lost transmission functionality. He was driving and then no power to the wheels. The engine was running fine but the truck would not move. I went to pick him up and have it towed. No forward gears and no reverse. There was no idiot lights on for the transmission or engine. I could not see any fluid leakage at all. The transmission was rebuilt 4 years ago. I am wondering if this could be anything other than a completely failed transmission. Let me know your thoughts. I will be pacing.

MCS

Chainsaw13 · 11-23-2013, 06:53 PM

Lemme ask a friend that might know. Did you have it towed home or to a shop? Chances are they can run a code scan on it which might show something.

MajorCaptSilly · 11-23-2013, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chainsaw13

Lemme ask a friend that might know. Did you have it towed home or to a shop? Chances are they can run a code scan on it which might show something.

I had it towed to a shop. I ran my OBD reader and got no code.

Thanks,

MCS

Chainsaw13 · 11-23-2013, 07:21 PM

Just heard from my friend. Said it's probably the trans. Didn't offer up much more than that. Sorry couldn't be of more help.

aaron72 · 11-23-2013, 07:56 PM

Are we talking automatic or manual?

Just as something else to check, can you rev up the engine? Possible that the accelerator cable snapped.

benedic08 · 11-23-2013, 08:06 PM

I have seen something similar to this. Friend of mine has a Ford Explorer and same thing happened. What happened was water got into the differential and rusted everything out.

Lockspur · 11-23-2013, 09:58 PM

If you're not getting any codes, maybe sheared bolts on the torque converter? That happened to one of our trucks at work.

emopunker2004 · 11-23-2013, 10:13 PM

Same thing happened to my 03 Ford Taurus when I had it. Was driving to work at night and totally lost power transfer to the wheels. Coasted into a parallel spot on the street and walked the rest of the way. Had it towed to the shop the next day. Tranny had to be rebuilt. There were no CE lights or anything.

themoneycollector · 11-23-2013, 10:23 PM

If you're lucky, could be just a really worn out pilot bearing or a broken link on your shifter

SvilleKid · 11-24-2013, 12:18 AM

(I'm assuming it's an automatic) Crank it, put it in gear. Rev up and watch drive shaft. If DS not turning, Tranny probably dead. Hard to imagine ALL the bolts connecting the torque converter to flywheel would break all at the same time, and that would involve much loud noise! There is possibility torque converter came apart inside, but that has more chance of locking every thing up instead of allowing a "free-spin".

If the tranny wasn't exhibiting ANY symptoms before (slipping, long shift times between gears, difficulty in engaging when cold, etc...), then possible it's a pump gone bad. But that can damage other components. So a Trans shop would rebuild the whole trans. And really, if you get a trans out and opened up, rebuild it all if it makes financial sense. Rebuild prices will vary based on length of warranty you want. I always go with standard one years warranty. If built wrong, it will fail again well within the one year time. If built right and maintained correctly, will last past three year warranty most shops will go to. Here, expect $2000 cost for one year warranty repair.

MajorCaptSilly · 11-24-2013, 07:46 AM

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure the tranny just died again. We will have to make some decisions. Humbug.......

MCS

Flynnster · 11-24-2013, 09:53 AM

Check out your local junkyards, grabbing a tranny from them, replacing the fluid, and swapping it in should save you lots of coin.

Bax · 11-24-2013, 11:10 AM

Sounds like the main engagement clutch in the tranny is gone. Sorry.

11-23-2013, 05:59 PM	#1
MajorCaptSilly Sklee Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Location: Mishawaka, IN Posts: 2,523 Trading: (30)	Car experts talk to me My son was driving home from school in his 2003 Ford Explorer. About 60 miles from home, the truck lost transmission functionality. He was driving and then no power to the wheels. The engine was running fine but the truck would not move. I went to pick him up and have it towed. No forward gears and no reverse. There was no idiot lights on for the transmission or engine. I could not see any fluid leakage at all. The transmission was rebuilt 4 years ago. I am wondering if this could be anything other than a completely failed transmission. Let me know your thoughts. I will be pacing. MCS __________________ Pillsbury, Minneapolis, Prince, Spoon Bridge and Cherry, coinkydink?

11-23-2013, 06:53 PM	#2
Chainsaw13 Møøse bites can be nasty Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Bob Location: The Enchanted Mitten Posts: 7,198 Trading: (96)	Re: Car experts talk to me Lemme ask a friend that might know. Did you have it towed home or to a shop? Chances are they can run a code scan on it which might show something. __________________ My neighbor came by my house this morning at 2AM, pounding on the door. Good thing I was still up playing the drums.

11-23-2013, 07:21 PM	#4
Chainsaw13 Møøse bites can be nasty Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Bob Location: The Enchanted Mitten Posts: 7,198 Trading: (96)	Re: Car experts talk to me Just heard from my friend. Said it's probably the trans. Didn't offer up much more than that. Sorry couldn't be of more help. __________________ My neighbor came by my house this morning at 2AM, pounding on the door. Good thing I was still up playing the drums.

11-23-2013, 07:56 PM	#5
aaron72 Still Watching My Back Join Date: May 2011 First Name: Aaron Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 176 Trading: (4)	Re: Car experts talk to me Are we talking automatic or manual? Just as something else to check, can you rev up the engine? Possible that the accelerator cable snapped. __________________ Check out my cigar review site: Developing Palates

11-23-2013, 08:06 PM	#6
benedic08 Bob's great grandson Join Date: May 2010 First Name: Benedic Location: Hot and Wet Manila Posts: 527 Trading: (8)	Re: Car experts talk to me I have seen something similar to this. Friend of mine has a Ford Explorer and same thing happened. What happened was water got into the differential and rusted everything out.

11-23-2013, 09:58 PM	#7
Lockspur Have My Own Room Join Date: Dec 2012 First Name: Scotty Location: Richmond, TX Posts: 1,376 Trading: (31)	Re: Car experts talk to me If you're not getting any codes, maybe sheared bolts on the torque converter? That happened to one of our trucks at work. __________________ Proud member of the GMCGTPWHAFA

11-23-2013, 10:13 PM	#8
emopunker2004 Central Fla rollin Join Date: Jan 2011 First Name: Justin Location: Winter Springs, FL Posts: 6,171 Trading: (46)	Re: Car experts talk to me Same thing happened to my 03 Ford Taurus when I had it. Was driving to work at night and totally lost power transfer to the wheels. Coasted into a parallel spot on the street and walked the rest of the way. Had it towed to the shop the next day. Tranny had to be rebuilt. There were no CE lights or anything. __________________ Cigar Asylum: Where all are equal, unless you are from CA, then you are more equal.

11-23-2013, 10:23 PM	#9
themoneycollector Nicotiana Tabacum Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hill AFB, UT Posts: 1,258 Trading: (108)	Re: Car experts talk to me If you're lucky, could be just a really worn out pilot bearing or a broken link on your shifter

11-24-2013, 12:18 AM	#10
SvilleKid Yes I am a Pirate Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 33°46′08″N 86°28′16″W / 33.76895°N 86.471037°W Posts: 2,776 Trading: (52)	Re: Car experts talk to me (I'm assuming it's an automatic) Crank it, put it in gear. Rev up and watch drive shaft. If DS not turning, Tranny probably dead. Hard to imagine ALL the bolts connecting the torque converter to flywheel would break all at the same time, and that would involve much loud noise! There is possibility torque converter came apart inside, but that has more chance of locking every thing up instead of allowing a "free-spin". If the tranny wasn't exhibiting ANY symptoms before (slipping, long shift times between gears, difficulty in engaging when cold, etc...), then possible it's a pump gone bad. But that can damage other components. So a Trans shop would rebuild the whole trans. And really, if you get a trans out and opened up, rebuild it all if it makes financial sense. Rebuild prices will vary based on length of warranty you want. I always go with standard one years warranty. If built wrong, it will fail again well within the one year time. If built right and maintained correctly, will last past three year warranty most shops will go to. Here, expect $2000 cost for one year warranty repair. __________________ Ceilin' fan it stirs the air, Cigar smoke does swirl. The fragrance on the pillow case, and he thinks about the girl. Thanks, JB, 1975.

11-24-2013, 07:46 AM	#11
MajorCaptSilly Sklee Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Location: Mishawaka, IN Posts: 2,523 Trading: (30)	Re: Car experts talk to me Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure the tranny just died again. We will have to make some decisions. Humbug....... MCS __________________ Pillsbury, Minneapolis, Prince, Spoon Bridge and Cherry, coinkydink?

11-24-2013, 09:53 AM	#12
Flynnster Life's too short Swishers Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Middle of the Mitten Posts: 787 Trading: (7)	Re: Car experts talk to me Check out your local junkyards, grabbing a tranny from them, replacing the fluid, and swapping it in should save you lots of coin.

11-24-2013, 11:10 AM	#13
Bax C A P S...CAPS CAPS CAPS! Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tim Location: Ringgold,GA Posts: 2,173 Trading: (70)	Re: Car experts talk to me Sounds like the main engagement clutch in the tranny is gone. Sorry. __________________ I'm the most interesting man in the world... but only if you find stupid stuff really interesting.