I hit something on the highway, can not drive car

[SAWYER]

I was going down the highway and ran over something, when I pulled over to check it out I noticed I was leaking what I think was transmission fluid, it was a dark reddish color or so it looked(it was dark outside). When I tried to get back in my car it would not drive, just rev up and barely move. The radiator seems fine, it has fluid. Any suggestions on what to check?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Sounds like the transmission pan was punctured. Have it towed to a garage and get it on a lift. If you are going to do it yourself I'd start by inspecting the transmission pan.

 

[SAWYER]

Is that a reasonable repair(cost)? I also could not put it in park

 

[HarryLui]

No year, make, or model. No photo of what is damage.

If the transmission was ran without fluid, it is toasted and you'll need a new transmission.

 

[LTC8K6]

May have just busted a trans cooler line if you are lucky?

The trans fluid may have simply leaked out of the broken line.

 

[SAWYER]

I will snap some pics in a bit, it is a Scion Xa

 

[JulesMaximus]

May have just busted a trans cooler line if you are lucky?

The trans fluid may have simply leaked out of the broken line.

:thumbsup: Could be this too.

Difficult to estimate cost to repair without knowing what is damaged. Could be something simple like this or it could be really expensive.

 

[Zivic]

When I tried to get back in my car it would not drive, just rev up and barely move.

this is of major concern. how long did you have the car running after you hit the object? worse case scenario your trans is toast. if you ripped off/open a line, the fluid will be pumped out fairly quickly. I would guess you had it running long enough without or low fluid to do at least some damage to the trans.

 

[SAWYER]

This hose is cut, the one on the other side looks like it is about to come off

 

[LTC8K6]

Hopefully repairing the lines and replacing the fluid will be all it needs.

 

[mztykal]

Trans fluid...just change the lines and add more tranny fluid...

 

[eng2d2]

Wow that is serious. Hopefully you can refill and go. The damage is repairable but we don't know if created more problem inside the tranny by lack of fluid. Please update us.

 

[CurrentlyPissed]

Admit it, that's not transmission fluid. It's blood. You are playing coy about who you killed.

I'm onto you.

 

[SAWYER]

There was orange goo on my car, not sure what I hit. It looked like a pumpkin

 

[Kenmitch]

There was orange goo on my car, not sure what I hit. It looked like a pumpkin

You did a hit and run on Pumpkin head? Better hope he's truly dead

 

[Ferzerp]

:thumbsup: Could be this too.

Difficult to estimate cost to repair without knowing what is damaged. Could be something simple like this or it could be really expensive.

Yup. The transmission could have not engaged due to the lack of pressure (since pressure in required to shift), or he could have entirely destroyed it.

It will either be cheap, or expensive. I doubt there is a middle option.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Yup. The transmission could have not engaged due to the lack of pressure (since pressure in required to shift), or he could have entirely destroyed it.

It will either be cheap, or expensive. I doubt there is a middle option.

In other words -- the Op is Ferzerped!!!

 

[razel]

When your fluid is low enough, your gears will not shift. I experienced that before when I didn't put enough fluid when doing a drain/refill. However, as long as you don't change gears when it is low you'll be ok. In fact you can still safely change gears with no load since there's still residual oil on the gears. It's the computers stopping you because of low/no fluid.

If you can change your oil/brakes, you can at least drain from the bolt, change the two hoses and what looks like also a damaged coolant peacock and refill with fluid. Start the car, let it warm, check the level again while it is running. Then pull up the parking brake up, foot on the brake, put it in reverse see how it reacts. Do not move the car. If it seems ok, go to drive and repeat. Again, do not move the car. Depending on how it goes, it's your call whether to tow or drive to a mechanic.

 

[thomsbrain]

Replace those hoses and refill. It's either going to drive fine or not, and giving it a try isn't going to make things worse, because if it isn't fine, it needs a rebuild regardless. When I was in a college band, we tried towing a Uhaul trailer with a Taurus. We boiled the trans fluid and it all blew out the dipstick hole. Car couldn't drive. After letting it all cool off and refilling with fluid, it ran fine again (or at least as well as a crappy old Taurus was going to run!). Fingers crossed for you!

 

[SAWYER]

I replaced the line and just secured my bumper and grill. I am about to take it for a drive and hopefully no damage happened

 

[SAWYER]

It seems to drive fine but that hose I replaced it leaking, I hope it is just because I didn't tighten the clamp enough

 

[slag]

It seems to drive fine but that hose I replaced it leaking, I hope it is just because I didn't tighten the clamp enough

Probably the Fetzer valve.

Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. And 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State.

 

[mizzou]

Even if you replaced the hoses, you could have fluid leaking from somewhere else and make it's way down to the hoses. Then when you see the drip coming from the hose, it's actually coming from somewhere else.

Must have been a heck of an impact, hopefully it didn't violently lift/move any hardware causing it to crack.

 

[sontakke]

Can you give me your social security number? I would like to buy lottery ticket using those numbers as you are extremely lucky

 

[HarryLui]

I replaced the line

Transmission cooler hose was used, not coolant hose, right?