# Transmission went out? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** bmw\ **Created:** [February 7, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-went-out/83597 "2014-02-07T23:57:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Jus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jus)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-went-out/83597/1 "2014-02-07T23:57:38Z")
Ok i’m new here but i’ll keep it simple. Driving around nyc ( we had crazy winter weather lately if that helps) car started making a clanking noise every so often from the hood. (note it was getting harder to steer i have awd) Pulled over, it looked fine, kept driving, all of a sudden few blocks later a LOUD metal clashing noise came from under the hood. Pulled over turned the car off. Now the car starts fine, but the car makes that noise everytime i shift to Forward/Reverse. Neutral is fine. Tranny went out? The car wont move ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-went-out/83597/2 "2014-02-08T00:54:57Z")
I can’t see ur car from where I sit. Motor is spinning in neutral but relatively stable since no torque is being transmitted. So, it could be as simple as a broken motor mount allowing some part of motor to contact something? Have helper watch motor while you shift into gear ---
**Author:** ![Jus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Jus](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Jus)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-went-out/83597/3 "2014-02-08T02:42:45Z")
Thanks, i’ll check it out. Do you think it can be the transmission fluid? I’ve seen a few posts about that online ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 3:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-went-out/83597/4 "2014-02-08T03:17:48Z")
What kind of car, 2wheel, 4wheel or All wheel drive- how many miles, what year? ---
**Author:** ![UncleTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e9a140/32.png) [@UncleTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/UncleTurbo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-went-out/83597/5 "2014-02-08T03:20:59Z")
It can’t hurt to check the transmission fluid, but I don’t think that is the answer. The clunking sound getting worse and the the big clunk are good clues. I suspect the CV joint(s) of one of the front axles has just completely failed. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-went-out/83597/6 "2014-02-08T03:48:00Z")
Concur w/ @UncleTurbo … a good bet is one of the CV joints has failed. That’s usually less $$$ than a transmission problem to fix, so cross your fingers it is a CV joint, not the transmission. OP could look under there with a flashlight, see if anything looks unusual about the drive shafts, comparing one side of the car to the other, or if one of the boots has split, is missing, etc.