Goes into gear but does not Move

Tiny
FORENSICS
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 LINCOLN LS
  • 3.9L
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 115,000 MILES
There is no check engine lights and all the gears it goes into, you can feel. When o.J. T is put into first it'll drive if you rev the RPM up and it'll jump forward and if you put it into reverse it will try but wont move only nudge backwards a bit and if the tires are lifted up it continues to have trouble. The transmission pan was leaking and I filled up to the top and did exactly the same thing it did when it was low on transmission fluid. I am at a loss on what could be wrong.
Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 AT 8:56 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,097 POSTS
Hi and thanks for using 2CarPros.

When you lifted the vehicle, did you confirm there were no brakes locked up? Also, when you say you filled the transmission to the top, do you mean the top of the full mark on the dipstick? When you place it in first and give it gas, is there a normal load on the engine or does it rev and then kick into gear? Finally, how low was the transmission fluid and was it clean?

Let me know.
Joe
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 AT 9:33 PM
Tiny
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Transmission fluid was clean. When you put it into gear without pushing gas you can feel the click and it'll only move if you rev the car up. Having slight trouble starting to go forward but once it's going it goes and reverse. Has extreme trouble moving and will only move backwards with assisted pushing. There's no slipping it just has trouble. Also, there is no dip stick it has a fill plug. Was driven until it had the driving issues and all gears. But first stopped working until the transmission was filled back up.
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 AT 9:44 PM
Tiny
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Also, transmission fluid was under gasket line.
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 AT 9:45 PM
Tiny
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Welcome back:
First, confirm there are no locked wheels. If there aren't, I have a feeling one of the clutch pack retainers in the transmission has broken, specifically the low reverse clutch pack. What may be happening is the car is trying to go two different directions at the same time.

Let me know.

Joe
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 AT 9:49 PM
Tiny
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Lifting it up gives the exact same reaction, but it doesn't try to go in two different direction at least from what I see at the tires.
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Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 AT 10:48 PM
Tiny
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Also the underside of the transmission got completely covered in fluid touching some external plugs. But I don't believe this would cause this kind of issue and they were properly covered anyways.
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Sunday, March 3rd, 2019 AT 12:30 PM
Tiny
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  • 110,097 POSTS
Welcome back:

When off the ground, the wheels can only go one direction. However, the transmission internally can be fighting itself to go two different directions. You wouldn't see that at the wheels. I have to be honest, if there are no brakes that are locked up, I really feel there is internal damage to the transmission. If you haven't already, you could remove the transmission pan and check to see if there is evidence of metallic parts in it indicating an internal hard part condition. Since there are no codes, it may need to be taken to a shop that specializes in transmissions for further diagnostics.
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+1
Sunday, March 3rd, 2019 AT 4:39 PM
Tiny
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I've been looking around the internet and saw some stuff about shift solenoids. Could it be a bad solenoid? Because it was driven home low on transmission fluid when the issues started. But I read that low transmission fluid can cause these things to overheat?
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Monday, March 4th, 2019 AT 9:42 PM
Tiny
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Welcome back:
I have to be honest, I don't feel the shift solenoids would do this. Overheating may have damaged something inside. Did you happen to remove the pan to check for evidence of internal damage?

Joe
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Tuesday, March 5th, 2019 AT 6:17 PM

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