My transmission will not engage into any gears, what is wrong?

Question

I will probably need a new transmission since it currently has 408k miles, but I am just curious what is causing my transmission to not engage into any of the gears. The engine just revs in ANY gear like it is in neutral.....what has gone wrong? Is this even the actual transmission's fault, or something else?

Answer 1

408k miles, thats pretty good. I'm sure you checked the obvious, the fluid level, but I'll point that out anyways. If the fluid is low, then it will do exactly what you're saying, rev in all gears like it was in neutral. Thats because the fluid is what actually spins the torque convertor and applies torque to the transmission gears. When the fluid is low, the torque convertor can't spin and thus can't turn the transmission output shaft (the side thats connected from the transmission to the differential). Always check the fluid with it at operating temp and while the car is ON. Most fluids you check with the car off, except the transmission, needs to be checked with the car running. Otherwise the fluid level on the dipstick will be off by quite a ways....

If fluid is not the problem, then I do not know, sorry.... Good Luck.

Answer 2

Automatic? Is the fluid at the proper level? If so, the front pump may be gone, the linkage may have fallen off, the valve body may be worn, the clutches may be non existent...anything after that many miles, heh heh

Manual transmission, the clutch probably said "no more"!

Answer 3

Possible causes are: hydraulic pump is shot,,,or torque converter is shot,,,but before you go replacing things,,,check your linkage to the transmission,,maybe something has come loose,,also if the linkage is a cable type going into the hydraulic fluid body of the transmission,,,it could have snapped,,or come of inside.

Answer 4

If a manual transmission, your clutch may be shot...