What are the symptoms of damaged manual transmission gears?
2 Answers
Manual transmission gear damage may exhibit the following symptoms: Difficulty in shifting gears: Improper gear shifting operations can cause damage to the transmission gears. In the short term, gear shifting may produce abnormal noises, and over time, it can lead to difficulty in shifting. Unusual odors inside the transmission: The transmission operates using hydraulic fluid. When the fluid temperature becomes excessively high, it can cause some burning, resulting in odors being emitted. This indicates that certain operational components within the transmission are not functioning properly. No movement when engaging gears: After starting the car and shifting into D or R gear, releasing the handbrake results in no response from the vehicle, with no forward movement. Abnormal noises from the manual transmission: When the vehicle is idling, driving, or under high load, the transmission produces abnormal noises, with dull sounds occurring during gear shifts.
After driving manual transmission cars for over 20 years, I've found that gear damage manifests quite noticeably. The gearshift becomes noticeably stiffer, sometimes making clunking noises, especially during low-speed climbing or turning. Once while driving in the city, the gear lever suddenly got stuck and required significant force to engage; during acceleration, I could feel the car body shaking as if the chassis was trembling. Even worse, the gear would occasionally pop back to neutral on its own, which was extremely dangerous. When checking the fluid, visible metal shavings can be seen - all clear signs of gear wear. Ignoring these symptoms could lead to complete transmission failure, resulting in extremely expensive repairs. If you hear unusual noises or notice anything abnormal, I recommend getting it checked at a workshop immediately to prevent major issues.
