I drive a 03 camry le. About a month ago a mechanic pointed out after an oil change that my outer cv joint was in trouble because the boot had ripped. I was too broke to fix it so I had to let it go for a while. About a week ago I was on the highway and it refused to go above 70. It sounded like revving but it was more like I was pumping the breaks. I would step on the pedal but it wouldn‘t go faster and the rpm wouldn‘t respond. Got to the point where now I can‘t get it above about 10mph. It‘s also making some grinding/squeaking/thumping noises. Has this turned into a transmission issue?
It could be, but I am leaning towards transmission as the cause. CV joint wear is usually indicated by a clicking (click-click-click) or knocking sound when turning, or when you are backing and turning. When the CV joint actually breaks, there is usually a complete disconnection and the car will usually (but not always) not move. If you find that the problem is the transmission and not a CV joint, DON'T go to an automobile repair shop for the repair. They will rape your wallet to fix a transmission. Go to an automatic transmission shop. A specialist in automatic transmissions. It will still be expensive to fix ANY transmission, but a lot less than a general automotive repair shop would charge.
In all my years of repairing vehicles, to include replacing or rebuilding CV-joints I have never even heard of a CV-joint ruining a transmission because the rubber boot was torn. This issue has nothing to do with your CV-joint. If the CV-joint was real bad, it would start to make a clunking noise like RockyD7 stated. The grinding/squeaking/thumping noises and lack of response from the engine indicates you have engine problems. Have someone do a fuel pressure test to check the -fuel pump -fuel pressure regulator -fuel filter -fuel injectors.
