Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us
Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network
HomeAnnouncements
Discussion Groups
By Brand
BMWChevroletDodgeFordGMHondaLexusMercedes-BenzNissanPeugeotToyotaVolkswagenOther Brands
By Topic
4x4 CarsRVsDrivingMaintenance & RepairCar AudioCollectible Cars
Country Specific
Australian ForumsUK Forums
ArticlesAuto InsuranceBuyingCars & TechnologyMaintenanceMiscellaneousSafety
DMV Resources
Related Topics
MotorcyclesBoatsMore Topics ...

Car Forum / GMC Cars / February 2008

Tip: Looking for answers? Try searching our database.

tranny problem with 90 Bonneville with 3800 V-6

Thread view: 
Enable EMail Alerts  Start New Thread
Thread rating: 
UseNet Reader - 30 Jan 2008 17:09 GMT
My sister is driving a 90 Bonneville that she claimed was running
roughly.  But she wasn't too specific about what it was doing.

So I went out to see what was wrong - the car started up fine, and I
backed out of the driveway, went to put it in drive and it wouldn't move
forward other than to coast downhill.  It won't go forward in any gear.
SO I had to back it back into the driveway.

I got it up on jackstands, and the left front wheel will turn when put
into drive or other forward gears, but the right wheel won't.

So I was wondering if anyone has any idea about what that might be?
Differential that needs to be serviced out of the car, or something
simple that could be fixed by dropping the pan or making some other
adjustment?
Certainly - 30 Jan 2008 19:03 GMT
On Jan 30, 9:09 am, UseNet Reader <usenet247rea...@earthlink.net>
wrote:
> My sister is driving a 90 Bonneville that she claimed was running
> roughly.  But she wasn't too specific about what it was doing.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> simple that could be fixed by dropping the pan or making some other
> adjustment?

More than likely the left front wheel is just turning due to lack of
rotational resistance. It is probably going to be a bit more severe
than you think. First of all, is it low on fluid? What condition is
the fluid in, is it burn't smelling or discolored, if so, the damage
is probably done. You can pull the pan and check for debris(metal,
clutch material), just to confirm a problem. You did not state how
many miles are on it.
UseNet Reader - 07 Feb 2008 22:15 GMT
> On Jan 30, 9:09 am, UseNet Reader <usenet247rea...@earthlink.net>
> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> clutch material), just to confirm a problem. You did not state how
> many miles are on it.

Car is not low on fluid, and it is not burnt.  The car was not used
heavily for years, and has less than 100K miles on it.

While in Drive and up on jack stands, the left wheel turns fine, and the
right doesn't turn at all.

But on the ground, the car will move fine under its own power in
REVERSE, but it will not move forward in DRIVE or any other forward gear.
James Goforth - 09 Feb 2008 16:20 GMT
I agree with the other poster who said it is an internal problem with
the trans.  BATauto.com has a forum specific to transmissions with some
very knowledgeable transmission techs, most notably a poster who goes by
"Transman" -- he helped me with mine.
Also, I think you should avoid running the transmission with the wheels
elevated as I think this can (in some cases) damage cv joints because of
the severe angular flexion due to the wheels hanging way down while
rapidly  turning.
UseNet Reader - 12 Feb 2008 20:14 GMT
The wheels are elevated, but they are not hanging - the jack stands are
under the lower control arms.  Therefore the wheels aren't on the ground.

> I agree with the other poster who said it is an internal problem with
> the trans.  BATauto.com has a forum specific to transmissions with some
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> the severe angular flexion due to the wheels hanging way down while
> rapidly  turning.
Bon·ne·ville - 17 Feb 2008 21:03 GMT
> While in Drive and up on jack stands, the left wheel turns fine, and the
> right doesn't turn at all.

Do you understand differentials?
Power goes to the wheel with the least resistance.
Do you know that much?
UseNet Reader - 21 Feb 2008 22:52 GMT
I do know what a differential is.

Do you understand that if the car will back up in reverse, but not go
forward in drive, it's likely not the differential?

>> While in Drive and up on jack stands, the left wheel turns fine, and the
>> right doesn't turn at all.
>
> Do you understand differentials?
> Power goes to the wheel with the least resistance.
> Do you know that much?
Mike Marlow - 22 Feb 2008 03:03 GMT
>I do know what a differential is.
>
> Do you understand that if the car will back up in reverse, but not go
> forward in drive, it's likely not the differential?

That is pretty much what Bon-ne-ville was saying.

Signature

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

>>> While in Drive and up on jack stands, the left wheel turns fine, and the
>>> right doesn't turn at all.
>>
>> Do you understand differentials? Power goes to the wheel with the least
>> resistance.
>> Do you know that much?
UseNet Reader - 29 Feb 2008 15:25 GMT
No Bonneville was claiming that the differential was the problem, one
wheel would spin and the other would not.  BOth wheels turn when the car
is in reverse and only one turns when the car is in ANY forward gear.

Bonneville didn't read the whole posting and was trying to diagnose only
the issue of one wheel turning while the car was up in the air - not the
fact that the car would move in reverse but not in a forward gear.

>> I do know what a differential is.
>>
>> Do you understand that if the car will back up in reverse, but not go
>> forward in drive, it's likely not the differential?
>
> That is pretty much what Bon-ne-ville was saying.

>> >> In article <47AB82F0.1000902@earthlink.net>,
>> >> usenet247reader@earthlink.net says...
>>> >>> While in Drive and up on jack stands, the left wheel turns
fine, and the
>>> >>> right doesn't turn at all.
>> >>
>> >> Do you understand differentials? Power goes to the wheel with the
least
>> >> resistance.
>> >> Do you know that much?
Mike Marlow - 29 Feb 2008 20:28 GMT
> No Bonneville was claiming that the differential was the problem, one
> wheel would spin and the other would not.  BOth wheels turn when the car
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> the issue of one wheel turning while the car was up in the air - not the
> fact that the car would move in reverse but not in a forward gear.

No he wasn't.  You did not understand his comment at all.  What he was
saying to you is that differentials work exactly as you describe.

Signature

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

Refinish King - 31 Jan 2008 03:52 GMT
Sounds like the axle popped out of the trans differential side gears,

or maybe a broken axle shaft.

Hope this helps.

RK
> My sister is driving a 90 Bonneville that she claimed was running
> roughly.  But she wasn't too specific about what it was doing.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> simple that could be fixed by dropping the pan or making some other
> adjustment?
Mike Marlow - 31 Jan 2008 14:47 GMT
> Sounds like the axle popped out of the trans differential side gears,
>
> or maybe a broken axle shaft.
>
> Hope this helps.

That greatly depends on what the OP meant in his description.  It is normal
for only one wheel to turn when the drive wheels are lifted off the ground.
He does not state if he tried to block that wheel and if the other wheel
then began to turn.  From his description, I would not suspect a broken
axle.  I'd suspect tranny problems.

Signature

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

UseNet Reader - 07 Feb 2008 22:12 GMT
I doubt it is either one of these - since the car backs up just fine. If
I was able to get away with it, I could drive the car in reverse for
miles and miles.

> Sounds like the axle popped out of the trans differential side gears,
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>> simple that could be fixed by dropping the pan or making some other
>> adjustment?
UseNet Reader - 21 Feb 2008 22:54 GMT
It doesn't help - the car will go into reverse and both wheels will
move, and the car will move backwards in reverse gear.

Did anyone read the whole posting - the car started up find and I backed
it out of the driveway.  It goes in reverse just fine.

It just won't move forward in drive.

Do you get it - the problem is only trying to move forward.

> Sounds like the axle popped out of the trans differential side gears,
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>> simple that could be fixed by dropping the pan or making some other
>> adjustment?
Mike Marlow - 22 Feb 2008 03:05 GMT
> It doesn't help - the car will go into reverse and both wheels will
> move, and the car will move backwards in reverse gear.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Do you get it - the problem is only trying to move forward.

You've gotten other advise to have the tranny checked.  Some of us have told
you that it does not at all sound like an axle, or a differential problem,
but a tranny problem.  Do you get it - have your tranny checked.

Signature

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

Edwin Pawlowski - 22 Feb 2008 03:38 GMT
>> It doesn't help - the car will go into reverse and both wheels will
>> move, and the car will move backwards in reverse gear.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> told you that it does not at all sound like an axle, or a differential
> problem, but a tranny problem.  Do you get it - have your tranny checked.

Maybe only half (the front half) of the differential is shot because it
backs up OK.
Mike Marlow - 22 Feb 2008 22:52 GMT
> Maybe only half (the front half) of the differential is shot because it
> backs up OK.

Yeah - I never thought of that...

Signature

-Mike-
mmarlowREMOVE@alltel.net

UseNet Reader - 29 Feb 2008 16:07 GMT
I have a 1989 Olds Delta 88 Royale that my sister is driving.

She came home telling me that the turn signals don't work.  I went out
to see for myself, and sure enough, they don't work.  Not only do they
not flash, but they don't even just come on and stay on without flashing.

But the emergency flashers work just fine.

Could it be a fuse, or flasher or the relay?
Mike - 29 Feb 2008 16:17 GMT
>I have a 1989 Olds Delta 88 Royale that my sister is driving.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Could it be a fuse, or flasher or the relay?

 Yes
 
Sign In
Join
My Latest Posts
My Monitored Threads
My Blog
My Photo Gallery
My Profile
My Homepage

Start New Thread
Enable EMail Alerts
Rate this Thread



©2008 Advenet LLC   Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.