Resolved 2g - Front wheels don’t spin - GSX

[Dryppical]

I have a 1997 Eclipse GSX and today I noticed the front wheels don’t spin. So I jacked up the front to spin the wheel and the other side didn’t spin. I went to the other side and did the same thing and nothing. The rears spin like they are supposed to. Spin it one way and the other side spins the opposite.

So I did something slightly sketchy and jacked up the front and back and put it on jack stands. Then I put it in gear and the fronts don’t spin at all. I know both axles are in as I replaced the driver side myself and I would think if the passenger wasn’t in it would spill transmission fluid no?

Anyways, any ideas on what it could be? Any help is greatly appreciated

 

[pauleyman]

The typical reason for this is a broken center diff. Sometimes it happens in such a way as the car essentially becomes RWD. The problem will lie internal to the trans and you'll have to pull it apart to find the true cause.

 

[Dryppical]

Do I have to be in gear while spinning the wheel or can it be in park?

I just read that if I put it in gear it will spin like its supposed to. I did it while it was in park but then does that explain the wheel not spinning when I jacked it up and put it in gear and the driver side didn't spin? I forgot to check the passenger side to see if it does anything. I'll check that tomorrow if that's the case. Do some of these have open front diffs?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm new to DSM's and made a poor decision of buying one as a project when I didn't know anything about them. Just generic mechanical knowledge.

If my research has been correct. An open diff takes the wheel with the least resistance and puts power to it. I did notice the driver side wheel was harder to turn, so maybe it wasn't spinning because of that. More testing to come tomorrow.

 

[pauleyman]

Somebody more versed with autos will need to chime in.

 

[Dryppical]

Well I decided to do a bit of testing and the previous owner didn’t shove the passenger cv axle in all the way so it was just resting there. I’m glad it was something simple as that but also it is something I should have checked before posting. I just seen it there and thought, looks good

 

[1990TSIAWDTALON]

Thanks for the follow up post to confirm the problem was solved and how. That is the information that this site always likes to be proud of, which is "How'd you fix it?".