FSBARAK Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 I've been driving Ford pickups for the last 30 years, so I'm not terribly familiar with fwd or GM. I bought this car for the gas mileage and comfort. I've put about 13k miles on it since we got it in January. Aside from a starting problem and the rear struts, the car has been great. Until last week when it started doing this: When I put it in gear (mostly reverse, but occasionaly drive) the trans goes into gear, but will not move. If you play with it a bit, it will eventually go. Does this mostly in reverse. Drive usually works. It seems like something is locking everything up. The question is, would this most likely be the trans. (seems to be working properly), or the half shafts? Or something else? It's a 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix, 4 door, SE, 3.1, auto, 177k miles. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jman093 Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 What do you mean by "play with it a bit," and how do you know that it goes into gear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 Almost sounds like a NSS is going. There's no adjustment on the cable. That's my first thought going by the info provided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSBARAK Posted August 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 What do you mean by "play with it a bit," and how do you know that it goes into gear? When you put it in gear, the rpms drop, there is slight clunk, and the engine won't rev above about 2k. The engine acts like it would if you tried to move while standing on the brake pedal. Also, I now have the car on jacks with both tires off the ground. Put it in gear and you can see the engine torque over a bit. By play with it a bit, I mean shift it back and forth between park, rev, neutral, and drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSBARAK Posted August 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 Almost sounds like a NSS is going. There's no adjustment on the cable. That's my first thought going by the info provided. Okay, what's an NSS? My first thought was the shift linkage or cable, but it seems to be working fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 Neutral Safety Switch. It's on top of the trans, which your shift lever/cable is hooked to. There is no adjustment on the cable. That's was my first thought. But I don't think that would explain all the issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted August 24, 2013 Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 I wonder if the parking pin is sticking like in Andre's Regal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSBARAK Posted August 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 (edited) I wonder if the parking pin is sticking like in Andre's Regal You wouldn't by chance have a link to that story? Your post reminded me that when this first happened, I put the car n neutral and tried to push it. It wouldn't roll. Had me concerned that I wouldn't be able to get the car on a trailer without dragging it and making things worse. Neutral safety switch=NSS. I should have known that. It just didn't register last night. Edited August 24, 2013 by FSBARAK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSBARAK Posted August 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2013 I found this with the search: http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/28821-Help!!!-Car-won-t-go-anywhere-like-the-brakes-are-locked-up-Trans-prob?highlight=trans+parking+pin+stuck. Sounds like the same problem I'm having, but there was no definitive final answer to the problem in that thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfewtrail Posted August 25, 2013 Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 Here's the thread someone mentioned about Andrei's parking pawl issue: http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/43702-Shifting-out-of-park-issues-Parking-Pawl-Removed!!!?highlight=parking+pawl and a related one: http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/44387-Dropping-the-subframe?highlight=parking+pawl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSBARAK Posted August 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2013 That was a good read. Knowing I don't need a new trans is great news. Now I just need to find the part and get started tearing it apart. Thank you all for the help. I'm sure I'll be back asking more questions in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSBARAK Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 I told you I'd be back:D Okay the part finally got here and I got a decent break in the rain today, so I commenced to taking things apart. Everything went well, until I tried to get the axle out. I know it's supposed to just pop right out of there, but, apparently, that's not how things work in my world. I have been prying, cussing, prying, cursing, prying, praying, prying on this thing for the last two hours. I must be missing something. Does the tranny have to be in neutral? I haven't tried this for fear of screwing something up. Or is there some other simple little thing that I'm missing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
19Cutlass94 Posted September 10, 2013 Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Sometimes they are a pita to pull. The 'C' clip does its job very well. I used a 2' pry bar and popped them out. When your trying to get the axle out, make sure your pry bar is on something solid, and give it more of a pop than a gentle pry. Doesnt matter what gear the trans is in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSBARAK Posted September 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 10, 2013 Thank you. I'll get a bigger bar and have another go at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FSBARAK Posted September 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 11, 2013 Bigger bar worked like a champ. Got it all put back together and it drives as good as ever. I thank you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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