Shifter Moves but Doesn’t Change Gears – Troubleshooting Guide!

The gear shifter is part of your gear system that is in control of shifting gears. It is a lever and is located on the car console. Although all the gears are connected in one place by levers and rods, they don’t clash or collide. There is a mechanism for them to work properly with each other. Sometimes, the shifter moves but doesn’t change gears. If you have experienced that, you probably are finding answers. We will provide you with some facts and reasons to consider a faulty gear shift. Read the article and find the answers to your questions.

Why does your Shifter Move but Doesn’t Change Gears?

There are a few reasons why the shifter doesn’t change gears. Following are some of the possible common reasons:

1. Faulty Shifting Cable

If the shifting cable is broken or damaged, then it won’t be able to function properly. Then the gears won’t change properly. For a faulty shifting cable distorting, stretching and deteriorating could be the reason. Also, the shifter cable could be loosened sometimes at the transmission or the shifter. Then it is unable to change the gears.

2. Low Levels of Transmission Fluid

If the transmission fluid is at a low level due to contamination or deterioration over time, then it will cause harm or bad issues when shifting the gears. When the lubrication is insufficient to change the gear cables, levers and rods, gears might not change properly and efficiently.

3. Malfunctioning Torque Converter

The torque converter is the part that helps to change the gears. A pump, turbine and a rotor are included in the torque converter. So, when the torque converter is not working properly due to rust, wear, or some other damage in its levers or other parts, then it won’t be able to change the gears even though you move the shifter.

4. Worn-out Clutch Disc

If your vehicle owns a manual transmission, the clutch disc will worn-out with time. And this will often cause the shifter to be inoperative. So, the gears won’t work effectively and properly after shifting. This also can cause damage in other parts of the car too, including the engine system. 

What Should I Do If my shifter Doesn’t Change Gears?

If moving the shifter doesn’t change gears, you should check for faults. Given below are the steps to check whether the shifter and the gears work accordingly or not.

1. Stat your car and step on the brake pedal. This is to shift the gear from the “Park (P)” position.
2. Then move the shifter to “Reverse(R)” and check the dashboard, to see whether the reverse position is activated or not.
3. Try to reverse the car by releasing the brakes to verify whether the car moves in reverse.
4. Put the shifter in “Neutral(N)” and “Drive(D)” positions and check whether those two gears work properly or not also.

If you can’t move or change the gears with the shifter or if the gears are stuck at the first position after you move the shifter, you can say that there is a fault with changing the gears. You should bring your car to a professional mechanic to understand the issue and fix it.

Below are some fixations you can do:

• Faulty shifter cable: You have to replace the shifter cable. Disconnect the battery and remove the console. Then you can access the shifter assembly. Remove the old shifter cable and install a new cable properly. Secure all the connections in the correct order before connecting the battery.
• Malfunctions in the shifter: Access the shifter as mentioned above and check whether it has to be repaired or replaced with the help of a mechanic. If it should be repaired or replaced, do it by getting the help of an expert who has the required knowledge. Otherwise, it would cause more damage. And check whether the shifter works properly after reconnecting the battery.
• Issues with the torque converter: It is better to get help from a professional to fix the issues with the torque converter. Because it includes many parts, check for damages, corrosion and other malfunctioning issues in the torque converter and repair or replace the required parts as soon as possible. If the parts are worn-out or rusted, it is better to replace them with new ones.
• Worn-out clutch disc: Access the clutch disc by removing the pressure plate after disconnecting the battery of the vehicle. Clean the flywheel using brake cleaner and see for possible damages and worn-outs. Replace the old clutch with a new one and properly reconnect the pressure plate and battery. Drive for a short distance and test if the car properly shifts the gears.  

Can I Drive with a Damaged Gear Cable?

No. It is advised not to drive with a damaged gear cable as it might be risky. The control of the vehicle will be out of your control if you are unable to shift the gears accordingly. So, it might lead to accidents risking your life.

If the gear cable is damaged there is a possible risk in shifting the gears. The you can’t change the gears when you need to reverse or park. If you are in a position to reverse your vehicle you will be out of options when you drive with a damaged gear cable.

And you will be stuck in one position when the gears are not changing and unable to transmit. Imagine if you are in the park position and you are unable to change the gears by using the shifter. And you need to move your car to make space for other vehicles to move on. What will you do? It will risk yourself and also others. Therefore, it is better not to drive with a damaged gear cable.

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Video Credits – 1A Auto: Repair Tips & Secrets Only Mechanics Know

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