[X_Splinter]

1966 Mustang 289 3 speed Auto

Hey guys, so a couple of weeks ago I drove the car to my backyard. All was working good.
A few hours later I was going to park it on the garage I found myself unable to move it. It revs but doesn't move.

I jacked the car up and I was able to move all the wheels by hand so the brakes are not problem. I am positive that is the transmission that is not shiffiting from Park

Anyone here had experience this? Is there a way to manually shift it to Neutral at least?

Any information may be helpful

 

[07redstang]

If the shift lever moves into gear, add some transmission fluid, sounds like your low.

 

[Lime1GT]

If you're under the car you can watch the shift linkage to the transmission move through all the PRND... selections as someone moves the shifter. If the linkage is broken or you disconnect the linkage at the trans lever you can grab the shift lever at the transmission and move it to neutral.

 

[Grimbrand]

If you feel the transmission select lever moving and 'bumping' through the gears like normal, but the engine is acting like you're still in neutral, chances are you're just low on fluid, like Redstang mentioned. It's a very common issue.

Many people don't realize that you need to check the transmission fluid while the engine is running. Make sure it's in Park, of course! Use only Type F fluid for C4 transmissions, and when you see any fluid on the end of the dipstick, be sure to add only half a quart at a time and check carefully; it's just as bad to run with too much fluid as it is to have too little. If you have too much, it gets all foamy and won't shift right either.

One of the problems I had with mine was a cooler line that someone had cut and put a piece of hose on to patch. It came loose, and was pumping transmission fluid out on the ground instead of through the cooler, so it was chugging ATF like a thirsty sixth grader with unlimited Kool Aid on a hot day.

 

[Braindead]

You don’t have wheels turned too far one way or other? Seems to affect going into gear from park, binding? NO, that only happens with column shifters rlb.

 

[94 Bumblebee]

What trans do you have? The C4? Once you determine that the shift lever at the trans is shifting, and all you get are revs and no movement, you've probably lost your reverse servo. The C4 is basically the predecessor of the AOD, and this is a common problem in old AOD transmissions. The servo has a "rubber" seal around the edge and it gets brittle and disintegrates over time. One minute you're driving fine, the next minute you have no reverse.

It's relatively easy to fix. I can't remember if you have to take off the valve body, or not. I'm sure there's a Youtube video on it somewhere. But once your inside the trans it will be obvious how to replace it. The part is cheap, like $30.

 

[Charles Reeves]

1966 Mustang 289 3 speed Auto

Hey guys, so a couple of weeks ago I drove the car to my backyard. All was working good.
A few hours later I was going to park it on the garage I found myself unable to move it. It revs but doesn't move.

I jacked the car up and I was able to move all the wheels by hand so the brakes are not problem. I am positive that is the transmission that is not shiffiting from Park

Anyone here had experience this? Is there a way to manually shift it to Neutral at least?

Any information may be helpful

Since I don't believe it has been mentioned yet, if it were stuck in park you wouldn't be able to rotate the rear wheels.

 

[X_Splinter]

Here's the update after more than 1 year, car stayed in the same place for that long, I started the engine every 2 months until it was ready to go to the shop (life happened)

Anyway, after removing the transmission (C4) we could see there were broken metal inside, we took to a shop with guy experienced in repair old cars/transmissions.

Final verdict: It needs to be rebuilt, they told it could go up to 2500€ (ouch). It's a heavy bill here but all I could find in Europe is some used C4 tranis for 1500 plus shipping which is a risk. I'll probably get it done.

It's a stab in the budget to restore it

 

[Cobrajet67]

Do you have any pics of the broken metal?

 

[X_Splinter]

Do you have any pics of the broken metal?

No