95 Cavalier won't go!

95 Cavalier won't go!
Hello All ~

I was wondering if anyone had insight into my most recent problem with my lovely 95 Chevy Cavalier! It suddenly won't go into gear. I can put the gear shift into drive or reverse, but "no go", even when I hit the gas. :evil:

It was really hot one day out here in AZ and the car ran just fine all day. I parked it for a few hours to only return to this new problem.

I am hoping it it isn't the trannie (just yet)! Any ideas of what else it could be and how to go about troubleshooting the problem?

Thanks to all in advance for your help!

Warrkatt

  Warrkatt

What sounds does it make? Does the engine sound like it's spinning freely, or straining against something? Any grinding noises, or other sounds?

  hondaman

Thanks for replying Dan the Honda Man! :thumbs:

To answer your question: No grinding or any other unusual sounds. The sounds from the engine and the like all sound normal!

Thanks for your help!!!

Warrkatt

  Warrkatt

No problem dude :thumbs:

So when you try to get the car moving, does the engine sound like it's spinning freely, such as when it's in neutral and being revved? Or does it sound like it's pushing, such as when you hold your foot on the brake and apply throttle?

  hondaman

have you checked the trans fluid level? does it pull any whatsoever? have you checked the linkage to make sure it isnt broken? im just throwin some things out here....

  adamc44

DantheHondaMan and AdamC~

Thanks for your responses.

To answer both of your questions in one feel swoop!

Tranny fluid level is good. Engine spins freely - no pulling or straining.

Dunno how to check the linkeage, so...... (!)


Thanks for your help!

Katt

  Warrkatt

::cough:: take it to a tranny shop ::cough:: lol just an idea

  Mx3Kid

No Thanks about the tranny shop Idea. Last time I did that I was Reallllllyyyyy Sorry!

They dropped all of my fluid out. Then they put the pan to the side and squirted some silver stuff out of a tube (looked like paint?) into it. The guy doing the work wouldn't speak to me or answer questions.

The owner guy emerged and told me I needed a rebuild or a new unit because he said the silver paint stuff was melted metal, as he rubbed it between his bare fingers.

I declined to agree to any work to be done (I wonder why????) and watched them put chunky black fluid back into my car. When I questioned about this, they retorted same quality goes back in as what came out. Of course, my fluid was much clearer and had no chunks in it. Over the next 24 hours, my transmission greatly deteriorated.

I had to go get a flush after that. It ran fine thereafter. For some reason (!) I don't trust tranny shops, or brake shops for that matter.

Thanks for your input!!!!

  Warrkatt

theres gotta be more than one tranny shop in yer area

  Mx3Kid

Not all shops are like that.

  Oomba

All the same - no thanks!

  Warrkatt

Okay, so you'd rather venture into fixing the problem when you dont exactly have an idea of what it is, and have no previous experience in dealing with said problem? Right... very intelligent!

  Oomba

heres my thought and i've seen it alot there is a bracket for the shifter linkage/cable on the tranny it rots/rusts out and weakens the cable bends the bracket and the tranny dont shift unless you put it into low(1) becareful if you try cause it may only go into reverse or neutral but shows on the indicater your in low (forward)

  osborste

Thanks for replying Osborste! :mrgreen:

Any thoughts or ideas are helpful! I checked to see if the car would move or shift when I put it in low gear, but where was no effect whatsoever. :banghead:

I am hearing a bit about a valve that can cause this and has been known to break in high temperatures on this same make/model, but different year. There was a recall on the 2000 for this reason.

Would you or anyone else know what valve this is? How could I check for this?

Thank you for your response! :thumbs:

  Warrkatt

Hmmm Oomba ~

My FATHER and My MECHANIC Both Advised that I troubleshoot the problem on car forums.

Please refrain from further commenting on this thread.

WarrKatt

  Warrkatt

Why the hell would a mechanic have you get advise on a forum? He must be a shitty mechanic then

  Oomba

That has to be among the the Top Ten Most Ignorant posts on Car Forums.

  Pythias

Lol I agree 100%

  Pythias

did you check the fluid with the car started?

  6000LE

What kind of mechanic would tell you to ask on a car fourm. If you dont have any experience with working on a transmission you shouldnt go anywhere near it. Not all shops are the same. Why dont you ask your mechanic if he knows of any good transmission shops.

  bigdaveangell

I have recently run into 2 mechanics who think my problem is with a cable connected to the gear shift and tranny (if I understand it correctly) and/or the clip that attaches it.

Does anyone know what is a reasonable amount of time to make such a repair?

I have no intention of repairing my vehicle myself, but rather am attempting to troubleshoot my car problem with those "in the know", so to speak. Tranny shops are very expensive, and as a female, I have much difficulty getting my car repaired for reasonable prices. I sure could tell you a lot of horror stories! Needless to say, I have to be a bit more resourceful to get my car fixed. If it were as simple as taking my vehicle to just any old mechanic or tranny shop, I would have done so already. You would be amazed how men get treated so differently than women in this area.

I do greatly appreciate any help and insight from anyone on this forum and thank everyone in advance for their understanding.

In Thanks,

Katt

  Warrkatt

i read this whole damn thing and still didn't find what your tranni is...auto or standard, if it's a standard look on top of the tranni should be directly below your abs module if you have abs, there should be two cables going to the top of the tranni, sometimes the clips break and the cable comes out of it's guide just reach down and make sure both cables are still in the brakets...if its an auto...well let me know

  BanffAutoSpa_ap

hmmm i guess i should read the second page of posts before i spew crap....good luck

  BanffAutoSpa_ap

the clip is 3 bucks and should take about 30 seconds to install, id do it for free ;)

  BanffAutoSpa_ap

Thanks for responding BanffAutoSpa_ap! :thumbs: All help is greatly appreciated.

Tranny should be automatic.

I was told it would take 3 hours labor, as one has to go through interior of the car to get to the clip and cables. Does this sound correct to you? :doh:

If it takes so little time, maybe this is a relatively easy job, and someone could instruct me to do it.

All I have ever done on my car myself is change a battery, several alternators, and brake pads, because these are relatively easy to get to, and I was shown how to do it. If the job is in this realm of difficulty, then I would give it a go! :hi:

Thanks again!

Katt

  Warrkatt

so it's an automatic eh?well i would get someone to move the shifter from park to drive and you stand above the motor...looking at the shifter linkage see if it even moves if it's moving properly you probably dont have cable problems, or they are misadjusted, if your linkage moves fine then your looking at more problems, is the fluid black does it smell like burnt....uhmmm fluid? does it have any shiney metal particles in it?

  BanffAutoSpa_ap

Hello All~ :smoke:

To answer all of your questions, the linkage moves like it should, and the fluid was fine. My mechanic gave me access to a network to look for more possibilities, of which I found none. :ohcrap:

At this point it looks like I may have to resign to taking my car to a tranny shop. That is, unless anyone has any other input or ideas? :hi:

Thanks to all that were helpful! :thumbs:

  Warrkatt

Check your shift cables and clutch cable
If they have been loosened over time or have corroded they will cause you to be unable to shift or be stuck in a gear. I currently am going thru the same problem and have found that replacing the cables is only possible thru CHEVY
and we may be able to find just the bushings or ends of these cable also thru chevy so if the cables are in good condition you may be able to save money by just replacing the ends. I am still investigating the possibilities so i don't have to resort to paying dealership prices for parts.

  vonaschen01

I dont think he's coming back...:ohcrap:

  Cliffy