On a road trip, 2014 miles in, when my truck shifted into 3rd accelerating from a light the engine reved and I lost drive to the wheels. There was a clunking noise. I shifted into neutral, stoped the truck, and shifted into 1st and was able to drive away shifting into 2nd and 3rd. In the 5 miles I was away from the hotel, this happened once more. I limped to the hotel and after I parked, disconnected the trailer and parked for the night. I checked the transmission fluid and there was no discoloration or burnt smell. The transmission fluid was slightly low but in normal range. The next morning I drove to a parts store, picked up some Mercon V fluid and added about 1/4 qt. On the way back to the hotel, I accelerating from a stop light, I lost power to the wheels again and there was a terrible noise. I shifted into neutral and costed to a stop. The truck would not engage power to the wheels after that.

The transmission fluid is clean, with no discoloration or burnt smell. The engine runs normally while in neutral or park. When I attempt to put it in forward or reverse there is a bad sound and no power to the wheels.

My first thought was the transmission, but I would expect to have indicators in the fluid, smell, discoloration or glitter. Then my thought was that the torque converter may have failed. If it has my question is what caused it to fail. I have only seen a torque converter failure due to abuse or loss of fluid. Could I have a failing pump in the transmission?

Any ideas would be welcome

Stranded in Chicago

 

look under the truck,
did the Drive Shaft come loose, and fall down?

that would make one heck of a noise

 

Does it go in reverse, that would eliminate pump or converter failure usually. Is it 2wd or 4wd? transfer case problem would cause no drive to the wheels possibly. If 4wd try shifting the transfer case.