Q: Can a bad transmission seize up an engine since I never heard of a transmission being able to do this was just wondering

asked by on July 11, 2017

Can a transmission cause an engine to seize up? Just a question I was curious bout since I never heard of it happening. Hasn't actually happened to me neither. Thanks

Engine "seizures" are only caused by lack of engine oil, cooling system overheating, and internal mechanical breakage (e.g., timing chain/belt on interference engines). If the transmission fails, in any respect or due to any cause, there are no adverse consequences for the engine. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you. Also, please take a look at YourMechanic’s full slate of services at the Services Page as you may see services of interest.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Oil leak.
I would start out by taking a large piece of cardboard and park your car over it over night, by looking at the drips on the cardboard this will tell you roughly where the drips are coming from. Sometimes drips...
Oil leaking out
I would ask for help from a mechanic at YourMechanic. They can come to you and properly diagnose your oil leak (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/oil-fluid-leak-inspection).
Antifreeze leak and brakes squeaking
Hi, over time these seals can fail and cause leaks to occur. Brakes squeaking usually means it's time to replace them. Certain brake pads are made with small metal tabs next to the pads. As the brakes wear down the...
Car overheated while idling. What is wrong
There are a few faults that will cause your 2013 Hyundai Elantra to overheat when idling. The most common would be the electric fans not functioning. When air is flowing over the radiator the car works fine, but when the...
Leaking differential liquid in front axle
Hi, thanks for writing in. A torn or broken CV boot (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-cv-boot) will cause differential fluid to leak from the axles without a doubt. If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your...
ADJUST SIDE TO SIDE & UP AND DOWN HEADLIGHTS GRAND MARQUIS WHICH SCREWS FOR EACH
Hi, thanks for your question about how to adjust your headlight screws. The top inside vertical screw will adjust the up and down for you. The lower inside horizontal screw adjusts the light to the left or right.
Whining sound when accelerating half the time.
Hi there: Although it's possible that the whining noise might be caused by the overdrive, it's also possible that this noise is caused by bad or failing wheel bearings (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-bad-or-failing-wheel-bearings). As the wheel bearings begin to age, they will lose...
Engine swap
The question would need to be more specific. When changing out a motor with a used motor is hard enough to get the same year engine to work correct. You want to change out to use a more modern motor...
What is the required mileage before oil change
If you use the recommended 5w30 oil with an oil change interval of 3000 miles you will be doing the oil changes as recommended for severe use. You can choose to do the changes later up to 7500 miles if...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Dodge Charger
If If you’ve always loved driving performance cars but you don't know how you’ll fit a baby seat in a Mustang or a Camaro, the 2012 Dodge Charger could be the car for you. While it has the room and...
How to Use “Stow ‘n’ Go” Seats in a Dodge or Chrysler Minivan
Minivans Minivans offer customers maximum interior space for the size of the vehicle. On a platform just a bit larger than a full size car, you can fit a driver and six passengers - or a driver, three passengers, and...
Ten Sports Cars That Double as Good Daily Drivers
The best daily driver is a car that's reliable, usable, and still fun to drive. Popular daily sports cars include the BMW M3, Subaru WRX, and VW GTI.