What Causes the Malibu to Fail to Engage Gear?
4 Answers
Malibu's failure to engage gear is due to an issue with the reverse gear in the transmission. Below is an introduction to the relevant transmission content: 1. 6AT Transmission: Except for shifting from P to D at the start and from D to P when parking, the D gear can be used from beginning to end. The Sport gear can be used when starting, but on flat roads, starting with Sport gear does not increase speed as quickly as with D gear. The S gear has excellent acceleration performance and is used for overtaking after reaching a certain speed. When the car is running, shifting the D gear to the left switches to M gear mode, allowing control of the gear by pushing the gear lever forward or backward. 2. Classification: Automotive transmissions can be divided into manual transmissions and automatic transmissions, with AT being the commonly referred to automatic transmission. Generally, automatic transmissions have gears such as P, R, N, D, 2, 1, or L. 6AT indicates six forward gears, meaning there are six sets of gear groups with different transmission ratios. Others include 4AT, 8AT, 9AT, and even 10AT. Although the preceding numbers differ, they are all derivatives of automatic transmission technology.
My old Malibu had an issue with not being able to shift gears last year, which really worried me at the time. The mechanic later said it was caused by poor contact in the small solenoid valve inside the gearshift mechanism, which is located right under the shift lever and prone to problems when damp. Another time, it was because I parked too hastily, and the P-lock hook got stuck in the ratchet wheel. The mechanic taught me to always engage the handbrake first before shifting to P when parking on a slope. Old transmission fluid can also affect shifting; if shifting feels rough, it's time to check the fluid. Also, cars with electronic shifters need special attention to battery voltage, as low power can even prevent shift signals from being transmitted. If you hear a clicking sound when shifting, be sure to stop and check immediately.
If you encounter difficulty shifting gears, it's recommended to check the following areas first: whether the brake light switch is functioning properly (near the brake pedal), if the transmission fluid appears black with a burnt smell, or if any foreign objects have fallen into the gear lever mechanism causing obstruction. Once, I couldn't shift gears after washing my car because water from the seat cushion seeped under the shift panel, causing a short circuit. Keeping the transmission in D gear for extended periods while waiting at a red light can also cause the transmission fluid temperature to rise excessively. It's best to shift to N gear when temporarily stopped.
A friend's Malibu once experienced a gear shift failure, and troubleshooting revealed that the micro switch in the shift lever assembly had malfunctioned. Cars with electronic shift levers are particularly vulnerable to water ingress in the wiring. If shifting is difficult when the car is hot but normal when cold, it might be a valve body issue. In an emergency, try turning the engine off and restarting—sometimes electronic systems act up and a reboot fixes it. A faulty transmission control module can also lock the gears.
