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luckyd · 11-10-2013, 06:42 AM

We left Tucumcari heading east to Checotah on I-40.
I am towing a 2000 Saturn with a manual 5 speed.
Hooked up the car and went through the normal procedure of
checking it was in neutral, etc.
Left the campground and ran into many miles of construction.
The part of the highway left to drive on was very rough and had lots of potholes. Arrived at a rest area, did a walk around and pulled out.
Arrived at Checotah, unhooked the car, and it would not start.
Looked under and found a snapped axle.
Off to the shop. Motor was seized.

Apparently the gear shift went into second gear and the motor
started spinning. 50 miles per hour in second gear for that little
motor finally seized it and snapped the axle.

Needed another motor and axle. Second gear is hard to use
but can shift from first to third. Hopefully will last for the rest of the
trip and then either fix or junk.

Shop (D and G) in Checotah went out of their way to help us.
The RV park (Onapa RV park) offered any assistance and we were even given a car to drive by one of the residents.
As a snowbirder from Canada, it was a real treat to meet so many great people.

palehorse89 · 11-10-2013, 07:35 AM

Sorry to hear of your troubles, A couple of thing makes me wonder here: I can't imagine the road being rough enough that the gear shift jumped into gear, the auto would of been coming off the ground to create this condition and even then jumping into gear, then you driving would of felt one hell of a drag on the tow vehicle that you or passengers would of felt ,then if the transmission was in gear and the engine was turning the oil pump was also turning making oil pressure, so I can not see how the engine could seized up, and if so when it did you for sure would of felt a terrific drag on the tow vehicle at this point. For your axle to be snapped off if the engine froze up would of made the tires to start to leave black marks on the road from skidding and the torque it would of taken to snap the axle from the tire sliding would of had to been really high to do this damage. Your assessment of what actually happened seems to be speculating of what could of happened and with quite a bit of mechanical background on my part I find what you posted hard to imagine. Well anyway, it might be time for a new auto at this point. Good luck.

vsheetz · 11-10-2013, 08:18 AM

Wow. So sorry to hear of the troubles. Agree it sounds plausible for the teams to bounce into gear. But I can see where turning high RPM for extended time could cause failure.

Bummer.

luckyd · 11-10-2013, 02:19 PM

I only posted what the mechanics had surmised happened.
I never felt a drag nor saw anything in the camera.
The axle was twisted until it snapped. There was no bald spot on the
tire so this happened very quickly. Both cv joints were intact.
The shop said they will tear the motor down to try to find out
what happened and will email me.

Oldkarphart · 11-10-2013, 02:23 PM

No doubt the engine is fried and the axle is twisted, but I think someone accidently left it in gear when it was hooked up to the coach...... Just My Opinion.

Mekanic · 11-10-2013, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luckyd

I only posted what the mechanics had surmised happened.
I never felt a drag nor saw anything in the camera.
The axle was twisted until it snapped. There was no bald spot on the
tire so this happened very quickly. Both cv joints were intact.
The shop said they will tear the motor down to try to find out
what happened and will email me.

I'm sure the engine was easy to turn for a little while.
So what is the Rpm for 2nd at about 50MPH ??
5500?? or so I'd think