This is a weird one. The car was sideswiped and it broke the driver side hub and shock connection and pulled the shaft out of the transmission. Massive fluid loss. Wanted to check the transmission (before I knew the shaft was out) and started the car. It went into all gears, but when going back into park there was grinding. Can that just be from the loss of fluid and the axle being out?

 

Engine type V-6 or 4-cyl?

Was the car moving?

Could be with one axle being out, the differential gears were rotating slightly.

Fix car. Add fluid to trans. Depending on trans it may or may not have a separate chamber for the diff fluid.

Check the diff axle seal for damage from the axle coming out. If damaged the seal may leak. Easier to change now then after the car is put together.

 

The car is a V6. Thanks for the info. I figured it may be something in the differential. Things moving with no fluid. Just wanted a second opinion. Don't want to fix the hub and shocks only to find out the tranny has to be replaced.

 

The V-6 has an integral diff and trans fluid housing which means if too much fluid leaked out the trans would stop working.

Did the car still move with the axle plugged? It is possible for the axle to only be slightly unplugged causing leakage but still allowing the car to move.

 

Didn't try to move the car after the accident. We verified later that the axle came completely out of the differential. The car was fine until it was side-swiped. Driver was coming on the freeway and someone clipped him.

 

Should be OK then.