QuestionQUESTION: I have a Hyundai Elantra 2001 with more than 80k miles. I left it at my home for two months during the summer. Recently, I found I can not move this car though I can start it. The car starts as normal, and there is no yellow or red warning sign on the dashboard. The noise of engine sounds normal too. But when I push the gear to D/R/1/2/3, the car will shake once and then do not move forward/backward. What could be the possible problem? Thanks a lot!
ANSWER: Hi, Sheldon. Based on your description, it's difficult for me to determine whether the problem is brake, engine, or transmission related.
Often, when a car is left undriven for a significant period of time, the brakes seize. Often, being persistent with the accelerator with the car in gear will free them up. (Do not apply the accelerator for more than a few seconds at a time, as you may overheat or damage the transmission).
I'm a little confused by the "shake once." What do you mean by this:
-- Does the car move a little bit forward or back and then stop?
-- Does the car rock a little from one side to the other and then stop?
When you attempt to drive the car, how high do the engine rpms go? Does the car act like it's in neutral or more like it's chained to a tree?
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QUESTION: Hi,
When I start the car, the engine seems normal, and the rpm is initially around 1500 and then drop to below 1000 after a while. When I attempt to accelerate the car when the gear is in R position, the rmp goes up to 2000-3000 and the car still can not move backward. I didn't persist the accelerator for more than 2-3 seconds.
In my previous description, "shake once" I mean the car seems move a little bit forward and backward and then stop, just as if I brake the car right before I park it.
How can I determine what is the potential problem or where is the problem (e.g., brake, engine, transmission)?
AnswerThe fact that the engine revs to between 2k and 3k indicates that you likely have normal engine power but that the vehicle is restrained from moving. While this could be caused by a problem in the transmission, it's much more likely that it's due to the brakes being seized.
To check whether the issue is with the brakes, place the car in neutral and chock the rear wheels. Jack the front wheels off the ground (both at the same time) by placing the jack under the subframe and see if you can turn each of them. Each should turn relatively freely. Similarly, with the front wheels on the ground and chocked-- you can have the vehicle in park now-- jack each rear wheel off the ground and see if you can turn it. If you're unable to turn any wheel, it's a reasonable conclusion that the brakes are seized at that wheel.
