Do you ever find it hard to slip your car into gear? Maybe you’ve recently been beeped at for taking too long to find first at a set of traffic lights?
If your gearstick isn’t as easy to operate as it used to be, there could be an underlying problem. Issues range from the simple to the severe, but whatever is the cause, it’s likely to get worse if it goes untreated.
So, if you’ve been having trouble selecting gears in your car – whether it’s first or fifth – this guide is here to help. We’ve listed some of the common causes of car gear selection problems, so you can begin to diagnose the problem and come up with the best solution.
The following problems could be the cause of why your car can’t go into gear…
Problem with the clutch
Nine times out of ten, problems putting a car into gear start with the clutch. Clutch issues are relatively common on cars of any age, and one of the tell-tale signs that indicate that there’s a fault with one or more clutch components is difficulty putting your car into gear.
Since the clutch assembly is made up of several different component parts, there are plenty of potential problems that can make gear selection more difficult. These include a failing master or slave cylinder, misalignment of the clutch housing, a worn or snapped clutch cable, or a faulty release bearing.
If your car’s clutch pedal feels different, can’t be depressed, or depresses further than usual, these all indicate that there’s an underlying problem within the clutch assembly, and could ultimately explain why you’re finding it hard to select the right gear while driving.
Low transmission fluid
When was the last time you checked your car’s transmission fluid? Our guess – not recently! Few motorists check their car’s transmission fluid on a regular basis, and most may not even know where to find its reservoir under the bonnet.
Don’t worry if that sounds like you, because you’re not alone. But getting into the habit of checking your car’s transmission fluid at least once a month (and more often if you cover a lot of miles) could save you trouble in the long run.
One of the main signs of low transmission fluid is difficulty putting a car in gear, not to mention a shaking or grinding feeling when you eventually slot the gear into place. Happily, this is a simple fix if you spot it early enough but drive for long enough with low transmission fluid and you could wind up with a serious repair bill.
If your car does have low transmission fluid, chances are that you have a leak, as hydraulic transmission fluid is unlikely to dissipate naturally. This type of fluid is typically pink, red or brown in colour, and since the transmission assembly is located beneath the car, you may see fluid on the ground after you’ve been parked.
Dirty or outdated transmission fluid
On a similar note to the point above; dirty transmission fluid can also cause problems with shifting your car into gear. Like all vehicle maintenance fluids, transmission fluid can become soiled with particles and deposits over time, and this can ultimately inhibit the performance of the gear system.
Checking the condition of your car’s transmission fluid is pretty straightforward. Here are a few steps on how to do it:
- Start by idling your car for 5-10 minutes to circulate the transmission fluid.
- Locate the transmission fluid reservoir under the bonnet. If you’re not sure, your car’s manual should be able to help.
- Just like with oil; remove the transmission fluid dipstick, clean it off, and reinsert it into the reservoir. When you pull it back out, check the level and note how viscose it is.
- A gloopy, thick transmission fluid could indicate the presence of dirt, corrosion and particles. The fluid should run smoothly and be light pink, red or brown in colour.
Fault in the transmission system
Have you noticed a grinding noise when selecting gears in your car? There could be a problem with the transmission assembly. Though robust, transmission systems aren’t impervious to damage and faults, and these could easily be the root cause of your gear-changing woes.
From overheating fluid to a bad bearing – all sorts of issues can emerge within the transmission system when it’s under extreme pressure. It’s important to get transmission faults diagnosed and fixed as quickly as possible, otherwise, your car may be heading to the scrapheap.
Misaligned gears
Have you ever ridden a bicycle only to find the gears don’t click into place smoothly? On a bike, that’s usually down to a stretched or misaligned derailleur cable — and manual transmissions have a similar weak point: the gear linkage or shift cable connecting your gearstick to the transmission. Over time, this can stretch or fall out of adjustment, making gear changes feel imprecise, notchy, or hard to engage.
If you’re unfortunate enough to experience this on a relatively new car, it’s usually the linkage rather than the gears themselves. The good news is that if it’s caught early, either by the factory or a savvy mechanic, the linkage can be adjusted to restore smooth, accurate gear changes and prevent premature wear.We hope this guide steers you towards the correct diagnosis for why you’re finding it difficult to change gears in your car. For more motoring tips and advice, visit the Prestone blog. Alternatively, take a look at our full range of high-performance vehicle maintenance fluids.