[jy116]

I got the exact same prob, maybe worse! No smell though... here's my post from NICO Mechanic section:

CAR: 1991 240sx, base model, 96k miles, just purchased, so dunno much else. Ran fine for about a month, then one day Im in stop and go traffic and hear some low pitch grinding sound. I pull over to see if theres a rock in my caliper or something, but nothing. Sounded like an exhaust leak or something from middle-bottom of the car.
I drive onto a side street and totally lose DRIVE, reverse, 1, 2... the car is basically not repoding to gas pedal [engine revs, but car wont move]. I turn the car off, wait for it to cool off a bit, and turn it on again. I can drive for 10 seconds, some slight grinding noise, then it's as if Im in neutral again.

I'm guessing the torque converter is broken somehow? Fluid is fine. It's been a month or so, and I still start the car up, drive a few seconds then the usual no DRIVE. then I push it back into a parking space.

I'm currently looking for any spare auto trans from 89-94 240sx [free to $100]. My firend will install for $200, and I'm sure thats cheaper than AT rebuild, or TC replacement...

*I did search and the results brought me to automatic trans that wont shift. Mine wont DRIVE at all! Big difference!*

Any info is greatly appreciated!

http://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread/198200

*Sweet, I jsut saved some storage space on Zilvia server! Thanks for posting this title thread!