Hi, So the Durango has been running well, today I went to pass a car and I floored it, got around the car no problem and just coasted. When I went to hit the gass again the engine just reved. I have no gears at all and there is a whiring sound coming from the torque converter area. Right now its on the side of the road but I am going to call a tow truck soon to tow it into my driveway(my garage already is taken by broken vehicles). My question is, is this a somewhat common thing and is there a suspect area I should look first?

I am thinking obviously it isn't getting fluid since I can hear what I assume is the pump and there is no movement anywhere. Does this jump at anyone as a problem that happens? Thanks a lot!

 

ok so I got the Durango towed home. From the dipstick the fluid looks nice and clean and the fluid level goes down when I start the truck so the pump is working... any ideas?

 

I have had many vehicles and I have a few muscle cars with potent engines, but I have never 'floored' it. I think it is asking for trouble to push a vehicle to those limits. It is not a common problem with most people, but seems to be a common problem with your vehicles. I would assume the transmission needs rebuilt.
FF

 

Thank you for your input. I also have many muscle cars, I have been in many car clubs, I have raced in many scca events and worked for carol Shelby so to say that I have been around many car guys is a massive understatement. You are the first and only person I have ever encountered to suggest opening up a vehicle to be a bad thing, and I am sorry you never got the chance to experience what your cars can do, im curious what the point of having a "potent" engine is if you never use it. I have owned 47 cars in my lifetime and every single one of them has been floored =D. Also, I worked in the number one firebird dealership in the country, that also had gm's highest customer satisfaction rating when it came to service. Each and every car, rather it came in for an engine overhaul or a "rattle", received a car wash and a mandatory w.o.t run before returning to the customer. It was my service managers policy, and we were the headquarters for GM trouble shooters in the west district, I believe it may have been GM's policy, but if it wasn't the big wigs at GM definitely knew about every car being floored.

So, now I am thinking there is a blockage in one of the lines, the fluid is surprisingly clean, maybe the tranny cooler is blocked. I will report back after I get the pan off.

 

Your first guess maybe right. The torque converters do fail and cause you to loose all gears.

 

Thank you! So do they fail because fins shear off or something? I suppose that could cause the whirring sound, I thought it was the front pump cavitating but that makes sense. Thank you! More to come when I get the pan off tonight.

 

so I dropped the pan and everything looked normal to me(me being experienced in this field from tranny work in the past) not any metal over what you would expect. Nice and clean. When torque converters go out do they always spray metal everywhere? If there was low pressure would it set a code or do I need a drbIII to see those? I tell you it sucks not having access to dealer scanners. Thanks

 

When you shift to drive do you feel engagement ? Your. Trans could be fine. I assume it's awd. It's possible the transfer case is at fault. Or even a differential. If they fail you will have no drive. If possible get all 4 wheels off the ground and put in drive and see if any wheels or drive shafts front or rear spin and report back.

 

Oh and is the engine light on? Low line pressure should set a code I would think. But a failed transfer case or different will not.

 

My apologies, this is actually a two wheel drive vehicle, and I can't feel anything when engaging a gear. The engine light is not on.