# Car will not move in reverse or drive **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chrysler, 300m\ **Created:** [June 23, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243 "2017-06-23T17:29:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raushelle.sloan1217](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@raushelle.sloan1217](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raushelle.sloan1217)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/1 "2017-06-23T17:29:08Z")
My car will not move an inch but starts and sounds great. The shifter is not stuck and does display correctly when i shift gears. any ideas or suggestions this is my only means of transportation??!! ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/2 "2017-06-23T17:33:36Z")
Sorry to say, but this is likely to be expensive, as it sounds like your transmission is either worn out, or has lost fluid which is causing the slipping. And if it’s lost fluid, it probably needs to be rebuilt anyway. When’s the last time you changed the fluid? ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/3 "2017-06-23T17:34:13Z")
Yes, it is likely your transmission needs service. And those can be expensive words. ---
**Author:** ![raushelle.sloan1217](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@raushelle.sloan1217](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raushelle.sloan1217)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/4 "2017-06-23T17:44:00Z")
I had a shop check it out he told me my transmission looked good and that the bolts to my torque converter were loose he tightened them back up and the car stopped making a loud rattle sound. The next day he said that the torque converter hit the pump which is why the engine will rev but the car wont move and told me that he wouldnt replace or fix anything unless i paid 3,600 for a trans. when the car stopped working the was nothing in the fluid and it didnt have a smell to it at all ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/5 "2017-06-23T18:15:50Z")
Let’s get the chronology down first. Did you take it to the shop because it wouldn’t move, or because of some other symptom (like, maybe, vibrating?), and then after the shop tightened the bolts it stopped moving? ---
**Author:** ![raushelle.sloan1217](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@raushelle.sloan1217](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raushelle.sloan1217)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/6 "2017-06-23T18:20:58Z")
because it wouldnt move ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 6:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/7 "2017-06-23T18:25:30Z")
You still need a transmission repair but I don’t like the sound of the shop you used. Pick an ATRA member shop, not a chain like AMMCO. If the torque converter goes, it will spew junk through the transmission so an overhaul is required. Maybe that’s what he was saying. ---
**Author:** ![raushelle.sloan1217](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@raushelle.sloan1217](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raushelle.sloan1217)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/8 "2017-06-23T18:28:27Z")
I understand that but there was nothing in the fluid when drained or when it came out right after the car stopped working ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/9 "2017-06-23T19:16:18Z")
How many miles are on this car? The last time the 300m was made was 13 years ago, so I imagine it possibly has quite high mileage. It’s entirely possible the transmission is simply worn out after a long life. The other possibility is that the drained fluid looks good, but there wasn’t enough of it to do its job - any signs of leaks? ---
**Author:** ![raushelle.sloan1217](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@raushelle.sloan1217](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raushelle.sloan1217)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 7:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/10 "2017-06-23T19:23:13Z")
97,883 miles no signs of any leaks only when the bolts became loose as soon as that happen the rattling started and the car stop working as soon as it happened ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/11 "2017-06-23T19:34:48Z")
How long between when the rattling started and when the car stopped moving? It’s not especially common for those bolts to back out, but it’s not unheard of either. When they do, damage can be caused to several components inside the transmission. I think you need to get it to an independent transmission shop like @bing said at this point - unless you know how to work on transmissions, there’s really nothing more to be done now other than turning the problem over to an expert. Expect it to be expensive. It could even be upwards of $3,000 depending on how bad it is in there. Post-diagnosis you should evaluate whether to go forward with the repair or replace the car. A 13 year old 2000’s Chrysler is likely to have a bunch of other problems cropping up - they weren’t the world’s most reliable vehicles. Optimistically assuming it’s a 2004 and in great shape otherwise, you’re looking at a car that’s worth somewhere between 3 and 4 thousand, so this transmission job has the potential to be right at the replacement value of the car. ---
**Author:** ![raushelle.sloan1217](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@raushelle.sloan1217](https://community.cartalk.com/u/raushelle.sloan1217)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 7:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/12 "2017-06-23T19:40:15Z")
it stopped working immediately after it happened ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2017, 9:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/13 "2017-06-23T21:18:36Z")
3 different posters and a mechanic who actually touched your car have told you the transmission needs to be rebuilt or replaced. I’d say we have a consensus that your transmission actually needs to be replaced. Either decide the car is worth the cost of the repair or not. There is really nothing else to do. Sorry. ---
**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 24, 2017, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/14 "2017-06-24T03:11:53Z")
What year is this Chrysler and how many miles does it have? I’m inclined to agree that a consensus by three different shops would support the need for a new tranny, but wonder why nobody suggested a boneyard tranny. Could it be because this tranny had such a bad reputation for reliability that nobody wanted to suggest the risk? ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/15 "2017-06-24T03:37:36Z")
Daughters saturn same symptom, luckily for her a trans fluid change and new filter solved the problem, though with you I think a new trans should be budgeted for. ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 3:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/16 "2017-06-24T03:59:30Z")
> [@the\_same\_mountainbik](#): > > three different shops would support the need for a new tranny I don’t see where OP said he took it to three different shops, only to one. ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 4:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/17 "2017-06-24T04:12:17Z")
> [@raushelle.sloan1217](#): > > he wouldnt replace or fix anything unless i paid 3,600 for a trans If it wasn’t for that statement, I would agree with most responses here. It sounds to me that the guy wants upfront money before he touches anything. If that is the case it would make me wonder a bit (unless you are known in your town not to pay your bills 😁). Perhaps it would be wise to invest some money and have the car towed to a reputable transmission shop for a second opinion. Who knows, you might be lucky and it is only a busted or disconnected shift cable. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 5:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/18 "2017-06-24T05:09:46Z")
> [@the\_same\_mountainbik](#): > > wonder why nobody suggested a boneyard tranny. I didn’t specify where to get it - but even a boneyard transmission would probably be pretty close to the value of the car once you add in the labor. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2017, 5:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-will-not-move-in-reverse-or-drive/105243/19 "2017-06-24T05:47:46Z")
It may be possible to replace the torque converter, front pump and clean out the transmission or install a used transmission but transmission technicians have learned that you don’t fool around with a 15 year old 42LE transmission. This is where transmission shops gain a bad reputation, they want to preform a complete repair, not a patch job and have the transmission fail 6 months later. The other problem is you don’t want a $1200 car sitting in the parking lot for a year and a half with a $1500 to $3600 repair bill. It is common practice to through out a very high bid for a repair on a car that is headed to the salvage yard.