A few months ago, some of you may remember I had an issue with my '96 850R wagon deciding one day not to budge in any gear. I replaced the battery and low and behold, the car started moving again. I've put about 2,000-3,000 miles on it since then.

Well, a few days ago, on my way to work I started having a harsh downshift to 1st gear at about 5mph when coming to a stop. Then, when accelerating from the stop, the car was acting like it was either in 2nd, or first was slipping. get up to about 15-20 mph, then all of a sudden it was accelerating normally. I get to work, thinking I had another battery issue, so the first thing I do is check the battery. Charge was very low. I charged the battery for about 3 hours, tested it again, and it tested bad. I replace teh battery, start the car, put into gear and everything seems find for about 30 feet. Then it starts bucking and slowing down. Engine running fine. I BARELY get the car completely into a parking space. I tested the alternator, it's fine. Battery cables are fine. But, I do find the car had a draw from the security system circuit. So, that is the culprit that is causing my battery to go dead if the car sits for a few days. BUT, I do not feel this is at all related to my transmission issue.

Right now, 100% full battery, engine starts and runs perfectly, I can shift into reverse, I can hear the engine RPMs fluctuate as normal, but the car will NOT MOVE. There is a load on the engine when in reverse. Put into drive, it will move a few inches, then stop. Won't budge. Put into neutral, cannot push the car. NO, the parking brake is not on. No, the parking brake is not malfunctioning. It's not relaced to parking brake.

Has anyone experienced something such as this? I was able to rule out my axles last time this happened, and the symptoms are identical.

Thanks!

 

Jack the car, the rear tires should turn freely. The front tires, that's another story. Not sure how they turn, I would imagine they should spin in neutral if the car is on jack stands.

 

car in neutral - both should spin freely when up on jack stands.

In gear, one should turn one way, the other should turn backwards of that when turned by hand.