Transmission not engaging!

What color was the transmission fluid?

How many miles are on the car?

What is its service history?

A bad sensor will make the OD light on the instrument panel flash but it will not prevent the transmission from engaging.

I think you are correct that there is an internal problem with the transmission.

Ray O....

Thank for your response. Trany fluid is a browny red color, and the milage is about 135K.

While I have only had it a year, a friend who is an air force mechanic had it for many years and kept it well.

Because it had worked fine the night before,and showed no smyptoms, I am wondering if it is something minor I am overlooking????

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but if the selector linkage is moving on the transmission case, then something inside the transmission is probably broken.

If there is 135K on the original ATF, then that could have contributed to the problem.

One of the things I've noticed is a friend who has had transmission problems on several different vehicles of different makes. He has a bad habit of shifting from drive to reverse and vice versa before the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and that puts a lot of wear and tear on friction surfaces in the transmission. Couple that with infrequent ATF changes and you have a recipe for problems.

Ray O....

I am pretty much decided that I will dump the car for whatever I can get for is as scrap. Sadly I just put in a new starter, alternator, spark plugs, and distibutor cap.

When I check the ATF fuid level and then start the engine, it never changes. It is still very high in the dipstick tube. Once the motor is running, shouldn't the fluid start pumping through the tranny? This is definitley NOT happening. Hence, it must be something internal in the tranny?!?

Ready for the junkyard, Owen Thanks for your advice on this. I really admire people like you who take your own time to help others.

Sounds like the front pump is out.

Pull the parts you just swapped (if brand new) and ebay them. :P

-LMB

Yes, once the motor is running, it should start circulating through the tranny, however, looking at ATF level on the dipstick is not the way to check for circulation. The way to check is to install a transmission pressure gauge. If the gauge shows zero or very low pressure, then the front pump is suspect. A pressure gauge will help diagnose other problems as well.

Good luck on the sale!