2005 300C Squealing Noise

[05Cski]

So I was driving home today and my car started making a high pitch squealing noise (my car started sounding like a toyota prius) I went to give it some gas and the engine light turned on and the rpm's went up fairly quickly but my car wouldn't really accelerate. I slowly drove it home and the whole way home the sound continued and I had to drive slowly. Finally a couple blocks from my home I hit a stop sign and as I tried to accelerate my car wouldn't go anywhere. The rpm's went up but I wasn't moving. I pushed it into a parking lot (It would not move in park but I could push it in neutral) and turned the engine off. under the hood everything looks fine but I noticed on the engine there looked like a screw was missing. The car starts and everything just wont move which made me think it was a transmission problem, (but I was able to switch from park to neutral and everything) but I have never had any problems or indications of this before. Is it possible for my car to have these symptoms just from missing a screw on the engine? Or am I looking at a much more expensive repair? Any help is greatly appreciated and I'm sorry I'm not more mechanic savvy. Thanks again,
-Jordan

[DESIREE]

You are going to have to give us more than "I noticed on the engine there looked like a screw was missing". There aren't any screws on our cars that are NOT needed for something, or they wouldn't have been there to begin with.
How about a picture of where you think the screw is missing? You'll probably have to post 5 or so comments before the forum will allow you to post pictures, so get started!

[MADDOG]

Check for any trouble codes and post those up too. I think you are right...you have a transmission problem but exactly what problem will take some work to determine what it is.

[Charliedrums38]

To check for trouble codes-put key in ignition, turn key-on-off-on-off-on, and look in the EVIC (computer sreen on dash, next to speedometer) and write down any numbers that come up, report back here and we'll tey to help...

[05Cski]

Alright I checked the trouble codes and nothing came up just read ------- and then dOne. I was able to start it and drive it home at about 3 mph. I will take some pictures of those screws I was talking about when I get some more time. Thanks for the help so far. Wish I could check my trans fluid, but there's no dip stick. Anyways I'll check in again later. thanks

[05Cski]

A little update:
The codes read PO700 and PO730
PO700:Transmission Control System
PO730:Gear Ratio incorrect.
Leading to a transmission problem.
The odd thing is the car will run and drive fine 2 times out of 3 (almost like the PO730 only comes up sometimes, I've heard when the code is sent to the system you won't be able to get out of neutral). I really don't think this is a mechanical error but electrical.
Anyways the shop I took it to told me the "Whole transmission" has to be replaced, but once I told them that I don't have the money and I was going to tow it home and just sell the car they changed their opinions they said "well leave it with us for a day or two more and we will check a few more things and you won't have to pay a penny over the cost for the diagnostic" I said fine but was skeptical because the change in pace seemed very sketchy. When I came back the word solenoids was being thrown around quite a bit.

[05Cski]

I just remembered, while replacing my thermostat a couple months ago I had another code come up for a speed sensor. The guy at the shop told me it's the ABS speed sensor and I could wait a couple months to replace it because it wasn't detrimental to the system. Do you think there is any correlation between these two problems? I saw that a common fix to these kind of problems is replacing a speed sensor but I know there are many speed sensors on these cars.

[05Cski]

Btw here are the missing screw pictures (now that I have 5 posts) although I'm almost positive they are unrelated.

[Charliedrums38]

Pics aren't showing, just red x's.

[05Cski]

Do these one's work?