# Car died **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** hyundai, accent, transmissions\ **Created:** [June 19, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-died/50540 "2010-06-19T13:03:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Deanne\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Deanne\_T](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Deanne_T)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 1:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-died/50540/1 "2010-06-19T13:03:41Z")
I was on the last mile of my daily treck home, when the car made a noise that sounded as if it automatically shifted the gears. I pushed the gas and it revved like it was in neutral. SOOO, putting my hazards on, I changed the gear - no difference. Then I stopped and put it in park, then back to drive and it still made the same noise. The car continued to roll home - thank goodness because I get home LATE(1am) and did not want to stop - nor want to wake anyone up… Now that I am home, I do not dare turn it back on… Help!?! Is my car ok? ---
**Author:** ![Goldwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@Goldwing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Goldwing)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 1:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-died/50540/2 "2010-06-19T13:11:03Z")
Why are you afraid to start the engine? Was the engine making a strange sound? Sounds like the transmission died. I’d check the transmission fluid level. If you’re lucky you just need more transmission fluid, but don’t count on being lucky. How many miles on the Accent? ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-died/50540/3 "2010-06-19T13:14:09Z")
And what model year? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-died/50540/4 "2010-06-19T13:21:54Z")
Nope, I’m sorry to say your car is not okay. Check your tranny fluid. I’ll wager tha it’s low and probably has a burned smell. The link between your engine and your tranny is a “torque converter”, which is a fluid coupling device. It’s sort of like a bagel sliced in half with vanes inside filled with fluid. As the engine turns the vanes in the front half, the fluid drags the back half along. Beyond a specific speed it’s “locked up” by a hydraulically operated clutch. It sounds like your “bagel” has too little fluid to function properly and your “lockup clutch” has no fluid pressure to operate. The front half pf the bagel is barely able to drag the back half along. I’ve attached an article that may help you understand the problem > **[Torque converter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torque_converter)** > > A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling which transfers rotating power from a prime mover, like an internal combustion engine, to a rotating driven load. In a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the torque converter connects the power source from the load. It is usually located between the engine's flexplate and the transmission. The equivalent location in a manual transmission would be the mechanical clutch. The key characteristic of a torque converter is its ability to multiply torqu... Bottom line: you need to have the car towed to a reputable tranny shop. Sincere best.