Was backing out of a parking spot about two.

ANONYMOUS

MEMBER
2003 TOYOTA SIENNA
190,000 MILES

Was backing out of a parking spot about two weeks ago. Spun a little on an icy patch. There was a clunk like I had backed into something, but there was nothing there. Drove away. The next time I stopped and tried to back up, it would not. At home, jacked up front wheels and tried to turn. With car in neutral and engine off, I could turn wheels forward only, not in reverse. When the engine is running, the transmission sounds like it goes into reverse, but it will not go in the backwards direction because the wheels won't turn. It will still go forward in drive. I really don't think the transmission has failed. Something in the differential portion may have broken. I will have to junk the car because of this. It is so frustrating. Any ideas? I would settle for being able to pull it backwards to be able to get it away from my garage. The wheels will not turn!

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,737 POSTS

Both wheels will not lock up at the same time, (if it's a wheel-related problem). If both of them are off the ground and it's in neutral, you should be able to turn at least one wheel backward. Even in park, turning one forward will cause the other one to turn backward. There really isn't anything that can break in the differential to cause these symptoms. I too don't think it's a transmission problem. It can cause just no reverse, but to lock up something serious would have to break and it wouldn't go forward either. By the way, this isn't an all-wheel-drive model, is it? If it is, you have to have all four tires off the ground OR you have to turn one wheel really hard.