got rear-ended, now transmission problems?

[gsxonthebeach]

So I am dead stopped in my town's usual 2 o'clock traffic. There is an intersection about 20ft behind me. I am looking forward when I hear a loud crash and get jolted forward a bit. I look in my rear view and see a HUGE dodge ram. we pull into the Les Schwab about 5 feet from the accident and I got his information. He apologized and took immediate fault. After he left I went to park my car in the nearest spot, when I noticed I couldn't get it into 1st gear. 2nd worked fine, but 3rd and 5th were also not happening. My question is, how could a rear-end collision damage my transmission like that? I've had that problem with a previous transmission and it turned out to be damaged synchros. Luckily he had Geico and they are taking care of me, but the appraisal guy who gave me an estimate of the damage didn't even check the transmission, only the body work, so I'll have to go over that with him. Is there anything else that might have been damaged along the bottom of the car that helped take out those gears? Any input on the car or the insurance transaction will be appreciated.

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[thomcasey]

It is possible that the collision forced the rearend forward a little, with your car being a GSX, would force the whole drivetrain forward. This could have dislodged the shifter cables or pushed the engine/tranny far enough forward that it is pulling your shifter cables too tight, which would cause problems putting them into gear.

 

[ilco187]

that's not even a hard enough or low enough hit to hurt the rear end or anything, but hell yeah i would mention it to them and get it replaced also.

 

[twicks69]

Check the shift cable bracket retention clips attaching the shift cables to the transmission shift linkage -- you might have popped one out.

Normally, if it is a 1st/3rd/5th or 2nd/4th/Reverse issue, it is shift cable related.

 

[gsxonthebeach]

Awesome, thank you all for your replies. The geico estimator just called me and told me that with the transmission issue I brought up, the damage went from $3,500 to $3,750. I'm just a little worried that with that much force to bump the transmission up in the FRONT of the car, that something else somewhere along the chassis could have gotten damaged as well.

 

[black_gst]

also if you were in gear when he hit you and had your hand on the shifter i wonder if you could have broke a shift fork. im not to familar with the transmissions but just an idea

 

[twicks69]

Breaking a shift fork wouldn't cause this. You could have bent/damaged the shift cable, or the retention clip for the shift cable onto the bracket.

I would strongly recommend inspecting the front cross-member and the front subframe as the transmission mounts to this. Inspect the mounts, bushings, and look for crumple damage.

Personally, I still have my money on either the shift cable, or the retention clip is popped off. Otherwise, pull the shifter base boot and inspect the shift cables at the shifter itself.

 

[gsxonthebeach]

Breaking a shift fork wouldn't cause this. You could have bent/damaged the shift cable, or the retention clip for the shift cable onto the bracket.

I would strongly recommend inspecting the front cross-member and the front subframe as the transmission mounts to this. Inspect the mounts, bushings, and look for crumple damage.

Personally, I still have my money on either the shift cable, or the retention clip is popped off. Otherwise, pull the shifter base boot and inspect the shift cables at the shifter itself.

I'll check those out next time I go to the shop. I went there earlier today and the transmission is working fine, it goes into all gears. The mechanic told me that he had trouble getting it into 1st but they drove it into the garage in 2nd and then it was able to shift into all gears. He told me that they drove it around the shop about 3 times and everything was shifting smoothly. He told me to try it out myself and it was all working. But it still worries me, so I'll take your advice.