Another "Help me" thread.

So I bought a '90 escort about 4 months ago for 600$. It has only 70K miles on it, and has been running pretty good untill recently...

Yesterday I ran out of gas, but just managed to get it home. I had to keep re-starting it, and use every last bit of fumes to get it into my driveway.

After going out and getting gas and all that...I tried to drive it somewhere and now my transmission wont shift at all (it's an automatic). The RPM's just keep getting higher and higher. Did I kill the transmission getting it to my driveway?

That's really lame if I did... and I'm kind of broke so I don't want to take it to a repair shop and have them do 500$ worth of work for a 600$ car.

Is there any other possible explanation other than my transmission being dead? I know I'm probably screwed... but if anyone has any insight that would be amazing. Thanks!

I don't know as much about cars as I do about computers, but it sounds like you might want to check the axles as well.

Regardless, that doesn't sound like what you did should cause transmission problems. Still, it's a Ford.

That said, I would think it was a transmission problem. Whoever sold it to you HAD to know that which is why you got it so cheap.

It was an old lady I bought it from...

She drove it to church on sundays...soo I don't know if that was the case.

I mean, she may have gotten me tho...

damn old ladies... they always looks so innocent.

HAHA.

Seriously, get that bad boy towed to a shop and get someone to check it out. It's gotta' be one of those two, probably transmission.

If you need a big fix that will be expensive, let me know, because one of my friends owns a repair shop with his father. They will give you a good discount.

So I bought a '90 escort about 4 months ago for 600$. It has only 70K miles on it, and has been running pretty good untill recently...

Yesterday I ran out of gas, but just managed to get it home. I had to keep re-starting it, and use every last bit of fumes to get it into my driveway.

After going out and getting gas and all that...I tried to drive it somewhere and now my transmission wont shift at all (it's an automatic). The RPM's just keep getting higher and higher. Did I kill the transmission getting it to my driveway?

That's really lame if I did... and I'm kind of broke so I don't want to take it to a repair shop and have them do 500$ worth of work for a 600$ car.

Is there any other possible explanation other than my transmission being dead? I know I'm probably screwed... but if anyone has any insight that would be amazing. Thanks!+




Dude, its a manual transmission... shift the gear!

Seriously, check the fluid... If its low it won't shift... but check the fluid right and DO NOT overfill...

Read the owner's manual for exact specifications on the fluid checking process... usually its letting the car warm up and shifting into neutral with the brake on before you check it... but like I said read the manual...



also, if a little old lady drove it for years like a little old lady, and you don't drive it like a little old lady, you stand a good chance of breaking it....

shift points are based on fluid pressure and when all of the components in a tranny aren't accustomed to high pressure for 17 years, and suddenly exposed to it.... well... not good things happen...

good luck!

Thanks for the help.

I tried checking the transmission fluid, but I'm very limited in my experience with any kind of vehicle mantinence. I read the manual, and It didn't tell me where the transmission dipstick was, so I just sort of poked around.

I checked the only other dipstick I could find besides the oil, so yeah... I'm still basically lost in the dark.

A buddy of mine that has worked on cars his whole life suggested that older cars don't like the cold very much, and It might just be a temporary thing. The problem is, it's not getting any warmer... and I need a car to commute to school.

Hopefully It's just the fluid... but I'm still working on confirming that I actually checked the fluid saying as how I'm a complete moron when it comes to cars...
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As far as driving it, I've been pretty good to it. I'm semi grandma-ish myself when driving. No tickets @ 21, so I'm a wuss on the highway. Say what you want, but I'd rather drive slow and get good gas mileage, then drive like maniac, get a million points on my liscense and shell out money that I don't have.

Thanks for the help.

I tried checking the transmission fluid, but I'm very limited in my experience with any kind of vehicle mantinence. I read the manual, and It didn't tell me where the transmission dipstick was, so I just sort of poked around.

I checked the only other dipstick I could find besides the oil, so yeah... I'm still basically lost in the dark.

A buddy of mine that has worked on cars his whole life suggested that older cars don't like the cold very much, and It might just be a temporary thing. The problem is, it's not getting any warmer... and I need a car to commute to school.

Hopefully It's just the fluid... but I'm still working on confirming that I actually checked the fluid saying as how I'm a complete moron when it comes to cars...
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As far as driving it, I've been pretty good to it. I'm semi grandma-ish myself when driving. No tickets @ 21, so I'm a wuss on the highway. Say what you want, but I'd rather drive slow and get good gas mileage, then drive like maniac, get a million points on my liscense and shell out money that I don't have.



the only other dipstick you should have is the trans. fluid...

like I said, let the car warm up and you either check it in neutral, or in gear... depending on the car.


if its low, only add a little bit at a time, because being low won't really hurt it... but adding too much will ruin it quickly...

I have friend who's selling an old acura 86 model legend v6 for 750 dollars... it has like 150k, but it runs great... if i had the money i'd pick it up, those cars are bulletproof...

if anyones interested let me know...