Car will not hold in any gear engine just revs

RODRIGUEZ227

MEMBER
2004 MITSUBISHI ENDEAVOR
3.8L
6 CYL
4WD
125,000 MILES

My car wont hold in any gear engine stays on sounds fine but just revs. I was at red light and when it was time to go I just herd a loud noise from outside the vehicle. So I put it in park and it just made a loud grinding noise. I did that so I could see maybe a tire went flat or something but everything was fine. So I had to put it back in neutral push it to the side. And after waiting for a tow truck to come I realized the car was not even holding in park so I had to use the e brake. I don't know if my transmission just went out or some type of shifter cable?

Friday, August 2nd, 2019 AT 6:06 AM

3 Replies

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,176 POSTS

Welcome to 2CarPros.

I have a feeling one of the front axle joints broke. Do me a favor, I attached a picture below that shows the axle and CV joints. There will be one of these axles going to each wheel. Check to see if any of them are loose, hanging, disconnected at either end or can if you can turn them by hand with the vehicle on the ground.

As far as the shift cable, if the vehicle was in drive when you stopped, I don't see how it would have shifted out of drive even if the cable somehow broke. I think one of the front axles or CV joints has broken. Keep in mind, the joints are enclosed in a rubber boot. You may have to really grab on to them and pull to see if one is broken.

Let me know what you find or if you have other questions. Also, if one is broken, that is why you have no gears including park.

Take care,
Joe

Image (Click to make bigger)

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Friday, August 2nd, 2019 AT 8:28 PM

RODRIGUEZ227

MEMBER
2 POSTS

Thank you so much I really appreciate your time replying back to me. I will have to do that as soon as I get a chance it is at my dads house right now and I will let you know what happens. But quick question, so are you saying the CV joints and or axle just can go out on you outta nowhere?

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Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 AT 11:26 AM

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
110,176 POSTS

Welcome back:

Usually there are indicators when a CV joint is going bad. Often times you will hear a clicking when turning or even when shifting. Not being there makes it tough for me, but based on your description, I really feel something like that has failed.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-cv-axle-joint

Let me know what you find.

Joe

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Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 AT 9:10 PM