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    My 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe won't move in Drive

    Hyundai Hyundai Advice Hyundai Santa Fe Hyundai Santa Fe Advice Hyundai Santa Fe 2002
    ...

    After returning to my 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe, I put in Drive but it wouldn't move. I checked the transmission fluid which was fine. So I had the vehicle towed home. I was told that something is wrong with the transmission. It will do nothing in forward or backwards. You can feel it engage in gear but it won't move.

    Answered by CarsGuide
    23 April 2025
    David Morley

    A modern automatic transmission is a very complex piece of equipment with a whole bunch of parts that have to be talking to each other for it to work properly. Your best plan of attack is to have the vehicle inspected by a transmission specialist who is familiar with this transmission and should be able to diagnose the fault.

    But it sounds like there’s something broken or loose inside that is not allowing the engine’s power to be transferred to the car’s wheels. This could be anything form an input or output shaft, a clutch assembly, torque converter or even the gearsets themselves. Perhaps the fault is in the valve body (the part that actually selects each gear) but until it’s torn down and inspected, you won’t know what’s going on.

    The other major cause of a car not moving when it’s in gear is that there’s a broken driveshaft or CV joint. The symptoms can be very similar, so check the whole driveline before committing to repairs.

    Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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