96 Camry help

[bak2MN]

I posted this on another page then seen this one. I have a 96 camry and the transmission wont shift into gear when you put it in gear it dont do anything go to put it back into park and it grinds. Is it shot or is it something else? When it is in park I can roll the car forward and back so nothing is catching. Im not a mechanic but I can work on stuff but dont know alot about trannys any input would be great.

[Big Buck Buster]

Check to see if you have a blown out CV shaft. Check both of them. If one of the shafts are blown out, this will occur.

[Jeremy airjer W]

I would think the same thing right off the bat.

[bak2MN]

Ok what should I be looking for to see if this is the problem? And how hard of a fix would it be? Thanks.

[Jeremy airjer W]

If you jack up the front of the car and rotate the tires by hand you should be able to see if the drive axle is rotating with the tire(s). The opposite tire should be turning the opposite direction as well. If both shafts are turning but the other tire is not turning the opposite direction than it would be something internal possible with the differential.

Its possible for the motor mount to get a lot of flex and allow the passenger axle to pull out of the inner tulip thats right before the axle bearing/motor mount. We just had one a couple of weeks ago that didn't pull all the way apart but enough that one of the bearings come off the inner cv joint and caused a heck of a vibration under acceleration!

[Big Buck Buster]

Ok what should I be looking for to see if this is the problem? And how hard of a fix would it be? Thanks.

If you have a jack handy, jack up one side off the ground. Put a jack stand, or block of wood under it(just in case). Leave it in park, and block the rear wheels. With the one tire completely off the ground, have another person rotate the tire while you are looking at the cv shafts. If the joint is blown out, the tire will be turning, but the shaft won't be. The outer joint is the most common joint to go.

Did you have a clicking noise while turning corners prior to this happening??

[bak2MN]

Thanks, I'll check that out tomarrow. I bought the car for a $100 for parts but if its not big of a problem may fix it up a little and drive. Nice cheap car possibly.

[bak2MN]

Well after further review I jacked it up and crwaled underneath and discovered there is a big hole in the bottom of the tranny and looking inside there is damage in there. So I think this will stay a parts car. ANYONE NEED PARTS!

[Big Buck Buster]

Oh well.

Is the rest of the car in good enough shape to consider putting a used trans in it?

[bak2MN]

It would need a few door handles a muffeler and a real good clean job. It has newer tires and runs like a top. A little dented and paint is faded but overall not bad. A new used tranny I priced is btwn 350 to 700 bucks so Idont know what to do?

[shizzy]

$350-$700 for parts on a 96 anything doesnt sound like a good plan of attack.

[bak2MN]

But if I did put only $700 to $800 into it I would have less than $1000 into it. And could sell it for a little profit or keep it for a back up car. Just dont have any extra money and time right now to mess with, with hard water fishing comeing soon. I hope.

[deadeye]

IDK where you were looking for parts but I just hopped on car-part dot com and they had a good used transmission for around 200$.

[bak2MN]

I just looked didnt see that can you help me find it?

[deadeye]

email me I will send you a link. Im assuming its a 4cyl?

[bak2MN]

Email sent.