My 83 300D with 212K miles has no locomotion! I was coming off a stop sign,the car began to accelerate,then I heard a loud noise almost like metal sheering off and then the engine just reved over like it was in neutral. Nothing happens when I put it in drive or reverse ,however it grinds when I put it in park as it would if you tried to put it in park while the car is still in motion . Any thoughts on what it could be or how big a job it is to fix would be appreciated . Dave

Does not sound good, If the low gear planetary carrier drum (which usually carries the ratchet for the parking pall) is still turning when you are not in motion, something major has broken inside the case.

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Jeff Lawrence
1987 300e
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

[This message has been edited by jeffsr (edited 08-01-2000).]

Since the parking pawl is in the rear of the tranny it seems likely to me that the uncoupling came after the tranny; like maybe the driveshaft coupling.

If it was uncoupled internally it wouldn't drive the parking pawl drum and if it was still connected to the wheels it wouldn't be moving unless the car was.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician

Hopefully, Steve is right. Most likely as he describes (driveshaft, coupling, etc.) I remember a Chrysler Torqueflight we had set up for racing, the planetary drum split and the planetary gear carrier self destructed leaving us with the tranny still turning, unable to use park and a lot of nasty noise. Why this was my immediate thought escapes me. I guess it's my pessemistic attitude about sudden tranny failures. Good luck and follow Steve's advice. I always hope that's it's not as bad as it sounds (no pun intended)...

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Jeff Lawrence
1987 300e
1989 300e
2000 Dodge Grand Caravan SE

check the cv shaft. seen them break.

Looks like Steve may be right.The 12in. section of driveshaft between the tranny and the carrier bearing has backed off from the tranny almost an inch . I can see about 1/2 inch of the spline and with about 3/16 in. play in the shaft I can see the grooves in the spline worn where it and the driveshaft have almost uncoupled .
What would cause this and what's involved in fixing it? Is it a problem with the tranny , with the carrier bearing or neither of either?

From my understanding of your statements, it sounds to me like the nut holding the output flange to the output shaft has come loose and the flange has backed off far enough to disengage the splines or to strip them. The question as to damage will hinge on whether the output shaft can be reused. If it can the problem is minor.

BTW I have seen these nuts loosen but usually they cause symptoms way before getting separated. I have never seen one cause total uncoupling.

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Steve Brotherton
Owner 24 bay BSC
Bosch Master, ASE master L1
26 years MB technician