Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Boom!

So I am on the way to work this a.m. And this 18 wheeler decides to turn left all of a sudden. All is clear on the right so I drop into 2nd, turn the wheel right to change lanes then I let the clutch out and BOOM!

Something popped and car just revs-no go. I had enough momentum to glide into the parking lot and call for my coworker to pick me up. I tried all of the gears in the aprking lot and motor just spins. There is a little gear spline type grinding.

Is it a coincidence that I had the car inb the shop three weeks ago to have the Catalytic converter replaced? ($1500 warranty) Is there a possibility that they forgot to replce something when they put in the new exhaust manifolds? Does/is the tranny messed with when replacing converter or mainfolds?

What do you all think?

Sounds like shifter linkage broke ... does it feel slopping in all the gears, like jello? As for the work on the exhaust ... they don't touch anything near the tranny.

Shifting felt somewhat normal. It just doesn't go anywhere.

Aything leaking under the car? Could be anything ... broken Diff, Snapped Half-Axle, etc.

Didn't look under car. Car is so low, I didn't think I'd see anything. Shoulda looked for fluid or something.

I hope its your linkage......Is yours a manual????? I know it might be a stupid question, but i have know some people who drop it into second in a ATX car...(stupid stupid IMHO) But back to you....Im tkaing it you havea Manual....The exact way you discribed is how i blew my Diff....cost me 1300 to fix (no warrenty)and do a major rebuild of the tranny. your should be still cover by warrenty, but what you described....

3 main things that could have happened.

1) diff busted...leaving you stranded with no gears.

2) theres a shifter linkage Bolt (Correct me if i ahve the termonology wrong) that can come lose with hard, spirited, or emergency driving...the bolt drops in and can lodge (or dislodge) your sincros and its a complet mess.

3) your shifter cable just snapped.


the first 2 cannot be fixed with out an R&R of the transmission. Also, i reconmend getting a torsen or a Quaife differential....they are the best to be used with our cars. Quaife also comes with a life time warrenty for racing and street driving.

The third one i reconmend using the Focus shifter tower with the Focus cables and ball-ends. It is a lot stronger and it seems to shif easier with these.

But honestly, unless your mechanicaly inclinde or are experienced with transmissions in general, you may have to take it to the shop to get it diagnosed.


Roz

I didn't clarify but I have an SVT (in my sig).

We are getting a home built so there isn't alot of room for upgrades.

I have had problems recently trying to get car into gear from a standstill. It's like the gears don't line up (mesh) and I have to go into 2nd just to take off cause I can't get it 1st.

Thanks for the tips. I am anxiously waiting for the call from my dealer. It's there now.

You blew the tranny. It's an expensive fix if you don't have ESP warranty.

So much for the sugarcoating