cannot put car in gear while running
Car suddenly unable to shift into gear while running, was able to drive home by shifting without using the clutch, approx. 25 miles, car performed fine. checked for leaks, none. blead system, car shifted fine for about 10 shifts then would'nt go into gear again. changed the slave cylinder, car shifted and ran good for 3 weeks then same thing. changed the master clutch cylinder, still will not go into gear and now i have a low clutch pedal approx. 3 inch. even after adjusting it. Also if i start it in gear, it takes off even though the clutch is depressed. The clutch itself appears to work
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello. If the clutch hydraulic system is fully bled and functioning properly then it needs a new clutch. When the clutch fails the hydraulic system can allow it to work properly until the slave cylinder overextends and the system ends up overheating which causes it to create air in the system. I would double check the pressure in the hydraulic system first and if all of the parts are working correctly then the clutch will be needed.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The main reason the car won`t go into gear is that the level of transmission fluid in the vehicle is lower than required. If the level is low despite regular maintenance, there may be a leak. Transmission fluid, therefore, is important to ensure that the car`s moving parts are properly lubricated for functioning.
Misadjusted, damaged or stretched shift linkage or cables can keep an AT from going into gear when moving the shifter. Check your owner`s manual, because some vehicles have shift cables that are adjustable. Adjusting a cable is a one-time fix you can make before taking your car in for service.
A vehicle that refuses to shift or into gear smoothly indicates there is a problem with your transmission. In most cases, the culprit is your transmission or clutch. A vehicle`s transmission system is very complicated. It has several moving parts, ignoring such an issue could quickly spiral into expensive repairs.
Whether you have an automatic transmission or manual gearbox, your car could fail to go into gear at any point. When that happens, you`ll end up stranded until you can figure out what went wrong. The potential causes range from low fluid or damaged shift linkage to complete catastrophic failure of the transmission.
One main reason why the automatic transmission in your car may not be shifting smoothly is the ECM is going bad. It is best to get this checked out by an experienced auto mechanic technician who understands the electrical system. Other indicators include bad connections within, or worn out sensors and faulty solenoids.
Malfunctioning Brake Light Switch The brake light switch is the main culprit for your gearshift being stuck in the mode. It`s a small sensor located on the brake pedal that prevents the car from starting if the brake pedal isn`t depressed.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
The car cannot be put in gear when the engine runs
ANSWER : Hello. It sounds like the clutch slave cylinder may not be working properly or has completely failed. The slave cylinder is what makes it easy for you to manually shift through the gears of the car. When the slave cylinder isn’t working properly, or fails completely, it may be difficult to go into gear and difficult to shift through gears. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, come out to inspect your car’s shifting issues and potentially replace the clutch slave cylinder.
Suddenly cannot shift car into gear.
ANSWER : Hi there:
There could be multiple problems on your Saturn that are causing this problem you’re experiencing. If your clutch is worn it won’t allow you to put your car in gear. When you step on the clutch, the transmission disengages from the engine. This slows the insides of the transmission just enough to allow you to shift gears. When the clutch is worn, the slave cylinder doesn’t have enough travel to disengage the clutch from the engine, so it wont allow you to put it in gear. It’s also possible that you have broken a shift fork in the transmission. The shift forks are what actually move the slides inside the gear box to engage the gears when you move the shifter. The best way to determine exactly why you’re car won’t shift into gear is have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to shift inspection.
Car won’t go into gear. 2002 Audi A4 Quattro
ANSWER : Hi there – Your symptoms describe the behavior to expect when your clutch hydraulics go out (clutch master and clutch slave cylinders). Check your clutch fluid level – it may be low. If the fluid level is low, this usually means your clutch slave cylinder has worn out, not unusual with your mileage, and should be replaced. I recommend a malfunctioning clutch inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
Car won’t move. I can start the car but when I put the shifter in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, ect. The car will not move.
ANSWER : The transaxle is not engaging internally to the axle shafts inside the transaxle or you have one or both axle shafts disengaged from the transaxle. The fact that the speedometer moves when gear is engaged and clutch is released shows the speed sensor in the transaxle is getting turned.
You will need to have the vehicle raised and the axles inspected for broke or stripped shafts. If the axles do not have anything visually wrong with them then hold one wheel and try to turn the other wheel while transaxle is in gear, with engine off, to see if the wheels are locked together. When you spin one wheel the other wheel should turn in the opposite direction. If it does not then the problem is in the transaxle differential gears and the transaxle would need to be removed and disassembled to find the broken internal components.
If you need some assistance with this, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come to your home or office to diagnose your acceleration issue and help make the necessary repairs to get you going again.
I just got my 99 BMW 528i back had a transmission put in was running fine but out of nowhere when I put it in gear it’s stallin
ANSWER : Stalling can be caused by a number of issues. A vacuum leak can be a cause. If during the repairs, a vacuum line was left loose or the air intake tube was cracked/damaged. Too much air can effect the air / fuel mixture and when the idle drops when shifting out of park, the engine can stall. Other components such as the idle air control valve and throttle position sensor can cause the same issue. Even if a fault code is not present for either, they can be slow or lag in their response. If they lag enough, the engine can stall before they can compensate for the idle drop when shifting out of Park. With the proper scan tools, a certified technician can look into the stalling to determine if fault codes are present or if any of the sensors are not responding correctly. A simple code reader does not give you actual sensor values.
Stays idling when I put it in gear, and the car doesn’t move. When forced into any gear without the clutch, the car does not shut off.
ANSWER : Hi there. The clutch may be worn and slipping causing the engine to stay running as the shifter is put into a gear selection. If the clutch was working, when put into gear and let off the clutch pedal, the vehicle will either move or stall out the engine. Check the slave cylinder and see if the return spring has broken off causing the clutch fork to stay engaged. Also the clutch adjuster cable could be out of adjustment or damaged. If the pedal and hydraulic assembly has no issues, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you diagnose your clutch.
I got sound when I shift to 3rd gear and it’s get hard to put shift to second gear when car is in 3rd gear.
ANSWER : Hello. It sounds as though the synchronizers in the transmission, which are used to adjust transmission internal gear speed when upshifting or downshifting are possibly worn out or you are shifting a bit too fast. It is also possible that the clutch is not releasing fully when you press the clutch pedal. In some conditions, utilizing synthetic gear oil in the transmission can help the quality of gear shifting. If the clutch is not fully releasing an inspection of the clutch hydraulics is a good idea. I would recommend having an inspection of the hard shift completed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost for repairs.
cannot put car in gear while running
ANSWER : Hello. If the clutch hydraulic system is fully bled and functioning properly then it needs a new clutch. When the clutch fails the hydraulic system can allow it to work properly until the slave cylinder overextends and the system ends up overheating which causes it to create air in the system. I would double check the pressure in the hydraulic system first and if all of the parts are working correctly then the clutch will be needed.
