Why does an automatic transmission car not move when pressing the accelerator in D gear?
2 Answers
Automatic transmission car does not move when pressing the accelerator in D gear mainly due to the following reasons: If the driveshaft rotates but the car cannot move, the fault lies in the rear axle: Jack up the rear axle. When turning one rear wheel, if the driveshaft does not rotate and the other rear wheel rotates in reverse, it indicates that all the rivets of the driven bevel gear are sheared off. If the other rear wheel also does not rotate, the half shaft should be disassembled and inspected to see if it is broken. If the driveshaft does not rotate when the transmission is in a certain gear after the car starts, the fault lies in the transmission: The transmission cover should be removed to check whether the transmission fork is broken or the guide block fixing screws are loose. If the driveshaft does not rotate in any gear of the transmission, the fault lies in the clutch: Check whether the clutch slips severely, whether all the spline teeth rivets between the clutch driven plate and the steel plate are sheared off, or whether the steel plate is fractured.
I've been driving for over a decade and have encountered several instances where an automatic transmission car wouldn't move when pressing the accelerator in D gear. There are actually many possible causes. The most common is that the engine isn't started at all—you might have turned the key but failed to ignite, or the car hasn't fully warmed up. Transmission issues are another key factor, such as a faulty gear position sensor or control module malfunction preventing signal transmission. Another possibility is the parking brake being stuck and not released, which locks the wheels; or when the battery charge is too low, the car's systems simply shut down. Safety first—if this happens, pull over immediately and check the dashboard for any warning lights; it's best to go directly to a repair shop and let a technician inspect it rather than risk driving and causing bigger problems. Regular maintenance of transmission fluid and sensors can prevent this issue—don't wait until it worsens to address it.