my wife was driving at the time and went to pass a car and with out any warning at all, it started to rev up with out any transmission response...tow truck was called and got it home and started it up and no movement in any gear. only in park while idling does it make a clicking/rattling noise...what do I do now?? any ideas what it might be?? no warning lights came on.. 155600k..i do my own repairs so most likely I will be removing the trans if that's what the problem is...have not had time to look it over but don't see any broken axles.. source for a new or used trans?? would love to give it traction control since the one wheel drive sucks in the snow...I live in Virginia...

 

My guess is the torque converter broke.

Just about any junk yard would have a used trans, they are used in just about every 4 cylinder GM since 2000'ish.

By one wheel drive, you mean one of the front wheels turn?

I'm up the road off route 3.

 

I guess only one wheel spins the way it handles in the snow...not bad otherwise in the rain.. a guy at work has a 06 cobalt for a $1000 with title problems said it runs well?? might be the same motor and trans??

 

Catastrophic failure by the sounds of it, and look for a 4T-45E from the same model year HHR, there are subtle differences from year to year.

Plus, depending on the Delta Platform vehicle the transmission was in(Cobalt, G-5, Saab), you could end up with the improper final drive ratio, etc.

Traction Control is a function of the vehicle's electronics, the tranny has no bearing on the presence or absence of Traction Control, and I can't recall any successful retrofits of non-equipped HHR's.

 

And besides that you turn traction control OFF in the snow so that both drive wheels can work, if you want to go up my driveway when it's icy.

The guys at the junkyards know how to match them up. It's their job!

 

Yup, TC in the snow makes things worse at times, every once and a while...wheelspin is a good thing.

 

Kind of the reason 4WD was invented. Let all 4 spin, one has got to get lucky!

A little bit of traction on each of 2 wheels is better than no traction on 1 wheel.

The reason I asked was because differentials do that kind of thing; there is a "drive" wheel and a "driven" wheel (except posi-traction).

 

ok saw a few used trans near me on ebay, but I wonder if the torque converter is sold with it??? one had 64k on it

 

Most are sold with torque converter, ask.

You might be better off getting one from a junkyard, they usually have a warranty.

 

M&M has a few for a lot less than I was thinking with low miles... is it a easy swap?? link to the removal of the trans?? any tips