Tranny problems...car won't move unless rolling ~15+mph...

[dbtk2]

I was driving home from work tonight and I am driving down the road, and all the sudden the car starts free reving. So I put the shifter down to 3rd and it is still free revving, put it down to 2nd and it engages in 2nd gear. So there I was cruising at a nice leisurely 38mph (I just held it at 3k rpm, and I only had 5 miles or so before I was home). Well I came to a stoplight, and had to stop because it was red, well I got down to ~10mph and the light turned green so I stepped on the gas...nothing...free rev. So I stopped at the light, and put the shifter in each gear trying to get it to move and the car would not move. Well, my dad came and picked me up (since at this point I was about 1 mile from home) after pushing the car into a parking lot at that corner. We went and bought a tow strap (it was 11:00 at night, and we had to go less than a mile, so we didn't really car about it being illegal or anything). We hooked up the tow strap and starting going down the road, at about 20mph I put the shifter in 2nd gear and the car starting moving under the engines power again. Somehow I managed to get the tow strap to unhook from the car that was pulling it while driving down the road, so I was driving under my own power and could go faster because there was more than 20ft between the cars. I kept the speeds over 25mph all the rest of the way home. Pulled it into the driveway and had to stop to wait for the garage door to open and it wouldn't move again. So once the car is moving a decent speed it will engage into gear, but it won't go from a stop. I don't know much about transmissions, so I don't know what the problem is, but I am guessing its probably the torque convertor? Any ideas on what it could be? I have no clue and don't have a lot of cash so I would like to figure out what the problem is and get it fixed ASAP.

Thanks,

Shawn

[Dave]

.. I'd highly doubt it's the torque converter, it sounds more like the trans itself is having issues, either you blew out one of the clutch packs required to operate the car in a forward motion, or the solenoids are shot. Also, check your fluid, car running, in NEUTRAL, not park, rev'd up to about 1500 RPM's - this will assure you that the TC is filled, and that the pump is putting out it's total pressure thru the trans, and the neutral fluid circut is the same length as the park fluid circut.

you can TRY to fool the transmission by totally unplugging it, that should force it into 3rd gear VIA the solenoids, but you'll have to be in drive (3 or however it's labeled) not overdrive.

after you try those little ideas, we may have a little more to work with in helpin' ya figure out what's happenin' to your trans.

--Dave.

[dbtk2]

The fluid is full. I've checked it in park & neutral...full either way. The car is idling at about 1600rpm...which it didn't do before I had the tranny problems (but its weird because I don't think that can be tranny related).., so it was definately reving high enough.

Where would i unplug the transmission at. I figured because it was just a 4T60...not a 4T60-e that it didn't plug in???

Any more ideas?

Shawn

[mihela816]

Sounds like first is out, it goes into first no matter what you put forward gear you put it in. I have no idea what cause first to go besides clutch packs.

[dbtk2]

First is out as well as reverse and 3rd...and possibly 4th...i never went fast enough to see. The car will drive down the road if you get it up to speed enough for it to go into 2nd.

Shawn

[sharkey]

what color is the oil??? does it smell burnt???

the other day you were saying you had something happening and i said it would be best to get it looked at before it quits working. now it sounds like its smoked and will be in need of a rebuild. deffinitly not torque converter, but that will need to get changed when you have the tranny rebuilt/used tranny installed.

[dbtk2]

The tranny was already done by the time you said it was best to get it looked over. The fluid is full, and looks brand new.

Shawn