What are the reasons for a car not being able to shift gears?
2 Answers
The reasons for a car not being able to shift gears are as follows: Clutch cable failure: Some manual transmission cars still use cables to control the clutch. The outer sheath of the cable is prone to cracking, resulting in no clutch and difficulty shifting gears. This issue is relatively simple and can be resolved by directly replacing the cable. Excessive self-locking force of the clutch-side gear: This makes it difficult to engage or disengage gears. In such cases, it is recommended to go to a repair shop to adjust the clutch cable and gear lock. Clutch master cylinder failure: The clutch hydraulic master cylinder may experience pressure loss or oil leakage during use, leading to the inability to shift gears when pressing the clutch. In this situation, it is necessary to go to a service station to replace the clutch master cylinder, and after replacement, an air bleeding operation must be performed.
I've been driving manual transmission cars for over a decade, and gear shifting issues are quite common. The most prevalent cause is problems with the clutch system. If the clutch disc is severely worn, stepping on it feels loose and flimsy, making it impossible to shift gears smoothly. Alternatively, if the synchronizer is damaged, the gears won't align properly, and forcing the shift will produce a grinding noise, damaging the gears. Another issue could be dirty or insufficient transmission fluid, which affects the smoothness of gear shifting due to poor fluidity. My previous car had this exact problem—I neglected to check the fluid level during maintenance, and the degraded fluid made even reverse gear difficult to engage, causing constant jerking while driving. In the end, I had to spend a fortune on a major transmission overhaul. In short, regularly checking the clutch disc thickness and fluid levels is crucial. Don't wait until the gears won't engage at all to fix it—it's not only inconvenient but also dangerous.
