Sifter floats from gear to gear and when letting out the clutch there is no response.
Driving in 4th gear coming up to red light put it in 3rd gave it gas and I could feel no response from the car. Coasted to the side of the road to see the problem. Sifter goes from gear to gear but it doesn't feel like its able to fall in gear. can have clutch out and shift through the gears with no response. A friend mentioned maybe the linkage is jammed up so I need some input please.
My car has 180000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. Either the clutch has failed causing the transmission not to engage in any gear, or the transmission shifter plastic rings broke and will not engage the shifter. Check the clutch and make sure that it is moving when the pedal is pressed down. If the fork on the bell housing is moving and the wheels can be moved when the clutch pedal is depressed and then the wheels not moving when the pedal is let up, then the clutch should be in an okay shape. Most likely the plastic rings on the shifter housing has broke and making the shifter move around. If you need further assistance with the shifter moving around too much, then seek out a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, to help you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Popping out of gear is a common problem when it comes to manual transmissions. The most common reason a manual transmission would jump out of gear is due to low or contaminated fluid, worn synchronizers inside the transmission, or improperly adjusted shift linkage.
If when you put your vehicle into gear and it won`t move, this may be a problem with low transmission fluid due to a leak, the shifter, shifter cable, or it could even be a problem in the valve body of your automatic transmission.
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.
If this occurs with a manual transmission, it is likely a problem with the clutch – either a leak with the master or slave cylinder or a clutch plate or disk that is wearing thin.
The Transmission Range Sensor tells the PCM the position of the transmission shifter. The PCM uses this information to control which gears of the transmission to enable or disable. When the TR sensor fails it can cause wrong gear starts, no upshifts, or what feels like a falling-out-of-gear condition.
When gears don`t properly fit together, they can create a jerky shifting experience. Similarly, transmission bands that are linked to the gears, in automatic transmissions, can wear down or break over time and require replacement.
Shifting delays are often caused by many things but most commonly due to poor maintenance or high mileage. Transmission fluid, in addition to acting as a coolant, keeps internal seals lubricated to help prevent hardening or wearing out.
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.
Turn off your vehicle`s ignition and wait patiently for 5 to 10 seconds. Start the engine and allow it to idle for several seconds. Switch off the ignition and wait patiently for another 30 to 40 seconds. Repeat these steps 2 to 3 times in order to reset your vehicle`s transmission control module.
If you put your car in gear and it won`t move, it could be because of low transmission fluid from a leak, a problem with the shifter, shifter cable, or the valve body of your automatic transmission.
The most common reasons a manual transmission failed are lack of lubrication, incorrect lubrication and improper or no clutch release.
Improper Or Harsh Shifting
When there`s no speed signal coming from the sensors, shifting of gears will be a problem because the powertrain control module won`t control them correctly. This will make the transmission not work properly.
Typically, two sensors communicate the transmission data to the vehicle`s powertrain control module. The first sensor, referred to as the input sensor, monitors the speed of the transmission`s input shaft. The second sensor is the output sensor, which monitors the output shaft speed.
The transmission fluid in an automatic transmission is essential for lubricating and cooling the components inside. However, over time, the fluid can become contaminated with debris, dirt, and metal particles. Contaminated fluid can interfere with the operation of the torque converter, causing it to shudder.
3. Difficulty shifting is a symptom of a bad torque converter. You want to be able to shift gears smoothly. A bad torque converter will not allow for that.
The easiest way to remove lag is by installing a device on your gas pedal called a throttle response controller. Throttle Response Controllers are blue tooth controlled, inexpensive, and make a big difference in immediate gas pedal response.
To fix delayed engagement, you need to identify what`s causing it. One of the first things to check is your transmission fluid. Problems with your transmission fluid suggest that the problem is caused by wear inside your transmission – most likely the seals or bands.
The ECM controls a number of systems, but the most important ones for our purposes are the air to fuel ratio, the engine timing. It also controls the transmission in automatic transmission vehicles, and valve timing on vehicles with variable valve timing.
To downshift, remove your foot from the gas pedal and depress the clutch before shifting the lever to the lower gear. Do not shift while pressing the gas pedal as this can damage either your engine or transmission. After you release the clutch and decelerate, use the same method to shift to the next lowest gear.
Automatic gearbox telltale signs include hesitation, slipping, or “trembling” during gear changes. Manuals are more likely to grind. Jerking and clunking noises are more likely to be caused by failing engine and transmission mounts.
Clutch drag occurs when the clutch does not fully disengage the engine when the clutch pedal is depressed and can result in a noisy gear change or difficulty in engaging first and or reverse gears. Clutch drag can be caused by a damaged clutch or clutch mechanism such as a worn clutch cable.
Therefore, a speed sensor failure will have a direct impact on the automatic transmission operation. If your vehicle has a failed speed sensor then you might notice signs such as hard shifting, limited gear operation, delayed shifting and rough shifts.
MAP – The Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor creates a signal based on vacuum levels in the intake manifold, which indicates engine load. A faulty MAP sensor can cause late, harsh shifts, early / soft shifts, or even prevent the transmission from shifting at all.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Sifter floats from gear to gear and when letting out the clutch there is no response.
ANSWER : Hi there. Either the clutch has failed causing the transmission not to engage in any gear, or the transmission shifter plastic rings broke and will not engage the shifter. Check the clutch and make sure that it is moving when the pedal is pressed down. If the fork on the bell housing is moving and the wheels can be moved when the clutch pedal is depressed and then the wheels not moving when the pedal is let up, then the clutch should be in an okay shape. Most likely the plastic rings on the shifter housing has broke and making the shifter move around. If you need further assistance with the shifter moving around too much, then seek out a professional, such as one from YourMechanic, to help you.
My manual car won’t go into gear, it turns on and the clutch goes down perfectly fine. It happened after my gears grinded, the car
ANSWER : If the clutch mechanism is releasing properly, and the shift linkage is not malfunctioning, your transmission will have to be removed from the vehicle and inspected. Once a transmission has been removed from a vehicle, if the problem is a broken or worn part or parts, and the transmission has 100,000 miles or more, the most cost effective approach is to just simply rebuild the whole transmission. There are transmission rebuild kits that are sold just for this purpose. Rebuilding a transmission is no big deal and is indeed easier in many respects than rebuilding an engine. You can rebuild your transmission right in your own garage. You can NOT rebuild an engine in your own garage due to the highly specialized, and extremely costly, machine shop equipment required. Occasionally, mobile mechanics will take on a transmission rebuild job especially as once the mechanic removes the transmission from the vehicle, it is just simply a modular unit that can be easily transported to a mechanic’s shop and rebuilt right there and then returned to your vehicle. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
I can’t go into 4th or 5th gear and clutch does not engage after a recent clutch job, clutch release while in gear does nothing.
ANSWER : I would rule out the axle not being pushed all the way in. That would effect all speeds and gears. That you can engage gears other than 4th and 5th leads me to 2 m possibilities:
1. Shift linkage mis-adjusted.
2. Possible bent shifter fork internally.
1. Shift linkage mis-adjusted.
2. Possible bent shifter fork internally.
If it feels like you can engage 4th and 5th with the engine OFF, then I would lean towards a clutch release issue.
I think my clutch or clutch master cyclinder went out
ANSWER : Hello – it sounds like the clutch hydraulics are not functioning properly. Check for adequate fluid level first – the clutch fluid reservoir is near the brake fluid reservoir on the firewall (driver side). If the fluid level is low, most likely the clutch slave cylinder is leaking and should be replaced. If the fluid level is correct, but the clutch will not disengage when you press the pedal, the clutch master cylinder (or the mechanical linkage) has likely failed.
I would recommend having your clutch issue inspected 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.
My clutch won’t let me shift into gears, and my clutch feels soft when pressed down.
ANSWER : Hi there. The inoperative clutch and soft clutch pedal could be, a faulty clutch master cylinder and/or a faulty clutch slave cylinder. Proper diagnoses should be performed to avoid unnecessary repairs. The brake fluid leak at the left rear wheel is a separate issue. The clutch hydraulic system and brake hydraulic system are two different hydraulic systems. I recommend having your vehicle’s inoperative and soft clutch pedal and brake fluid leak be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
when you are going down the road and your coasting and pull it out of gear and let out on the clutch it dies and then if you put
ANSWER : Hello,
If your car is stalling when in neutral, then the first thing I would check is the idle air control valve (ICV). The idle air control valve is the component responsible for maintaining engine idle speed when in neutral. If the idle air control valve checks out, I would then look at the throttle position sensor, as it also affects idle speed. If any of those parts are faulty and need replacement, YourMechanic offers a repair and diagnosis service preformed by a certified mechanic that will commute to your location to replace the idle air control valve or throttle position sensor.
Regards,
Eduardo
YourMechanic
My truck won’t allow me to change gears even when pressing the clutch. No gears go in at all. Makes it impossible to drive.
ANSWER : Hello, this concern is possibly the slave or clutch master cylinder failure. These two components use brake fluid to apply pressure for movement of the clutch system. This fluid breaks down in time and causes the seals to fail (leak). A low fluid level would cause this concern as well as internal leakage. Replacement of components would be necessary. This type of concern would need to be inspected. If you’d like, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your location to diagnose your vehicle, and possibly replace your clutch master cylinder if need be.
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.
