Hi All,

I started driving my 97 Maxima from a parking lot and as soon as I made a left on to the street I just got some kind of a jerk and the car won't move forward. The engine was running though.
Luckily it moved enough due to inertia so I could get it off the road.

I stopped the engine and started again and it runs fine but when I put in the drive it won't move. It won't move in Reverse or Neutral.
When I put in Park it makes some noise like Ddddrrrrrr.

I called the towing and while the guys was loading the car i.e. car was at an angle, oil started draining out.

I dropped the car at a auto shop and he due to Sat he hasn't yet checked my car.

Any ideas what it could be and what it might cost to fix it?

Thanks.

 

Axel popped out

 

Ah....I got the driver side axel replaced on thursday.
So that might be a bad installation?

Is there a chance of any transmission damage? I just want to be prepared on what the repair guys comes up with and reason with him.

 

There could be damage to the splines on the axle or tranny. Pull the axle out and inspect the splines, also look inside the trans with a flashlight. If everything's good, replace the springclip on the end of the axle, slap it back in, check the fluid level and you're good.

 

Thanks. I am not familiar with those things but it looks this issue could have resulted from some mistake while installing the axle.

 

The splines are the teeth on the end of the axle and the matching ones in the hole it goes into. There's a spring clip that goes on the end of the axle to keep it from falling out. Put another one on, put the axle back in, and refill it with lube.

 

Thanks. So damaging that part could cause into fluid drain correct?
As I said, nothing was dripping when of ground but as soon as the car was tilted on the tow truck, fluid started draining out.

 

Yes. There's a seal that seals against the axle to hold the fluid in. If the axle isn't all the way in, the seal isn't sealing and fluid will leak out.

 

 

Thanks for clarification. Feeling better and hoping no damage to transmission.

 

Who installed your axle?

 

Local auto repair shop...that's where I have dropped my car yesterday.

 

The repair guy called me and told something like:
"Transmission shift cable is stuck" and I could hardly understand him.

May be someone here can explain what that could be.

I wonder if he is telling the truth or just trying to hide his mistake on axle job he did.

He is charging me $75 for just finding the problem and said he won't charge me extra for fixing this cable issue.

Thanks.

 

""I wonder if he is telling the truth or just trying to hide his mistake on axle job he did.""

I think you hit the nail on the head

 

:d

 

Ask him how a stuck cable could make fluid leak when the car was tilted up?

 

I will but I know he will have an explanation for that.

 

Your transmission is electronic, so ask him to show you this cable.

 

Ok he said he had to adjust the Kick Down Cable. That's what he wrote on the bill.

I asked him what was the fluid that leaked and he really didn't had any proper explanation for that.

I asked if he refilled the transmission fluid, he goes, I checked oil and other fluids and everything is fine.

The car is running fine and back on road, and wonder if I should get the car inspected at some other shop to be sure I won't get stranded again.

 

Your car doesn't have one of those, either. Find a new mechanic.

 

No kick-down cable. Last vehicle I saw with one of those was a '90's Chevy truck.

 

Thanks guys.
Is there any thing on internet to back that....as he has written the same on the bill and I can get back to him and may be file a complaint with BAR.

 

The better thing would be to file a bad review on something like Google reviews or Yelp. That will do more than filing a complaint with the bar. All that does is just go on their files somewhere in space. They aren't going to go after them unless it's been mass complaints (ever seen the news investigation of Jiffy lube, how they would change oil without doing the filter, try to sell them air filters or other extra parts, etc)

I've been ripped off by mechanics so many times, it's not funny. I've even messed stuff up during DIY projects (although nothing near some of the mistakes that shops can make).

However, if the issue was the axle, he shouldn't of charged you. Probably just didn't feel like doing work over again which everyone hates. In the future, try not to go to those 'family owned' local shops if it was one. Some of them are right up there with Firestone/Goodyear and all those places...

 

BAR must be from California lol just go talk to the mechinic if hes a stand up guy he will take care of you wow glad i dont live there!

 

Find a reputable shop and have them check everything out. I wouldn't trust this shop anymore. I hope your fluids are to spec.

 

Derp this thread is 5 yrs old