Car won't move while in drive or reverse

grga1 · Post by **grga1** » 02 Feb 2018, 10:16

2001 Volvo S40 144000 miles. Here is the situation. I pulled out of the garage this morning and everything seemed normal. Drove maybe around 500 feet with few turns and the car made a grinding noise and disengaged, so I had to stop and leave it there. The engine runs fine but the car will not move in either direction. When switching between drive and park and drive and reverse the car makes that same grinding noise for a short time. It was cold here this morning, around 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Any ideas? What I am mostly interested in, can the transmission suddenly die? It was not giving any problems before that - no slippage, smooth shifts. Transmission fluid has never been changed, but if I remember correctly, the service schedule does not call for it to be changed. Frankly, I am afraid to check the level when the engine is running, as it is in really inaccessible place, close to the radiator fans.

Post by **oragex** » 02 Feb 2018, 10:20

Perhaps an axle has popped out of the transmission. Can you turn the wheels to lock and take a picture where the axle goes into the transmission, on both sides? Don't switch the gear in D or R until fixed.

Post by **alschnertz** » 02 Feb 2018, 14:23

My first thought was also an axle issue.
Has it been "clunking" recently when switching from reverse to drive?
Or have you noticed a "clicking" noise from the front end when turning?

Yes, the dipstick is difficult to access, but it can be done carefully.
Kind of silly to me to disregard checking the fluid because it's hard to get to.
Don't wear loose shirt sleeves when checking. Maybe wear a pair of gloves to protect from heat.
I've done it so often, I don't give it a second thought anymore.

grga1 · Post by **grga1** » 02 Feb 2018, 14:51

Thanks, I had to get the car towed to the repair shop as it was blocking traffic. Chose a shop that specializes in transmissions, they said it's a transmission issue but cannot say what it is until they open it (very expensive, and if it is the worst case scenario 2-3 times more expensive than the car itself). Never been to this shop before, so I do not know if they are reliable, but I asked them if it can be an axle problem, and they said it is not. I have never heard a transmission going out without warning signs first.

Post by **alschnertz** » 02 Feb 2018, 20:01

FWIW, i bought and installed a 125K mile used transmission into my '01 a few years ago.
I got it from a local JY for $250 with a 6 month warranty.

It's not easy to do yourself, but it can be done with the right tools and enough patience.