Our Pontiac 6000 broken on side of road

[Patriot_RAM]

Hey Guys,



We have a Pontiac 6000 that we purchased a while back that has a problem. It seemed to happen out of the blue. My wife was driving it and suddenly after about 1/2 mile it acted like it was in neutral. If you put in in drive or reverse, it won't go. There are no strange noises or anything. If you put it in park, it locks correctly. If you put it into gear, it unlocks, but doesn't engage and move.



This car is a 1991 Pontiac 6000, v6, front wheel drive automatic with locking torque converter. I disconnected the TCC wires, but it didn't help. It's now sitting on the side of the highway.



Anybody have any suggestions on what to try?



THANKS!

 

[rbattelle]

Yikes. Check the fluid level, of course. If that's good, it sounds like a problem with the 1st band (bad band or stuck servo piston). I wouldn't be surprised if it were a stuck piston. Nothing to be done for that alongside the road (unless whacking the cover with a hammer happened to unstick it). Might as well have it towed.



-Ryan

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Those cars are also famous for having the connector traces on the ECM come loose...



The car will run like a sonofagun until you put it in gear... then it just flat out dies. The engine torquing over when you put it in gear causes the connector on the ECM to flex and break the connection (stalling the engine... ). A new/rebuilt ECM will fix that issue (if it hasn't happened yet to your car... it will happen eventually... unless the ECM has been replaced).



I'm not much help with the automatic transaxle in that car... sorry.



Matt

 

[nps]

Sounds like you broke the drive belt between the TC and the transmission.

 

[rbattelle]

Sounds like you broke the drive belt between the TC and the transmission.

I had no idea there was such a part! Ouch.



-Ryan

 

[Patriot_RAM]

eek... . Okay, so to the transmission shop it goes.

 

[Patriot_RAM]

Oh, and by the way... . Thanks for the input.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Dave:



Have you considered trading up instead of fixing the old Pontiac?

Just saying that car's model outloud instantly conjures up full body shivers and bad memories for most mechanics...



I know money doesn't grow on trees (neither do hot dogs... ), but that car is going to progressively cost you more to maintain as time goes on. Sure, all cars are like that... but some are worse than others.



Matt

 

[nps]

Dave:



Have you considered trading up instead of fixing the old Pontiac?

Just saying that car's model outloud instantly conjures up full body shivers and bad memories for most mechanics...



I know money doesn't grow on trees (neither do hot dogs... ), but that car is going to progressively cost you more to maintain as time goes on. Sure, all cars are like that... but some are worse than others.



Matt

Didn't you see that Dave is from Arkansas? They don't trade up cars down there - it'll become a lawn ornament first! :-laf



(Sorry Dave - couldn't resist. Good luck with the transmission. )