What are the reasons for a sudden inability to shift gears in an automatic transmission car?
2 Answers
Here are the specific reasons why an automatic transmission car suddenly cannot shift gears: 1. Cold weather: Difficulty in shifting gears due to cold weather is a normal phenomenon. After starting the car and driving for a while, the transmission temperature rises, making it easier to shift gears. 2. Possible gear damage: The positioning component of the gear lever's ball head may have failed, allowing the gear lever to rotate freely around its own axis and making it impossible to accurately control the gear position. 3. Wear of the spherical working surface: Wear on the spherical working surface at the lower end of the gear lever prevents it from controlling the fork or the slot of the shift head, making both gear engagement and disengagement impossible.
I find that sudden inability to shift gears in automatic transmission cars is quite common. It might be because you didn't press the brake pedal, as many vehicles have this safety design requiring brake application for gear changes. Alternatively, the engine might not be started - you can't shift gears with the engine off. Another possibility is insufficient or dirty transmission fluid causing internal components to jam. Once when driving on a mountain road, I couldn't shift into reverse after stopping, and found I hadn't pressed the brake firmly enough. Loose shift linkage cables or debris obstruction can also cause this. My suggestion: Start the engine, firmly press the brake, and try moving between P and N gears several times to see if it unlocks. If still stuck, don't force it to avoid further damage. Have a professional check fluid levels, brake switches and systems - usually an easy fix. Develop the habit of pressing brakes when starting to prevent such issues.
