Why does the Baojun 510 automatic transmission sometimes fail to engage gears?
4 Answers
Possible causes include abnormalities in the release bearing or shift fork shaft. Release bearing working principle: The clutch release bearing is installed between the clutch and the transmission. The release bearing housing is loosely fitted on the tubular extension of the transmission's first shaft bearing cover. A return spring ensures the shoulder of the release bearing always presses against the release fork and retracts to the rearmost position, maintaining a gap of approximately 3-4mm with the end of the release lever (release fingers). Shift fork shaft working principle: The shift fork is a device that pushes the sliding gear. The sliding gear has a ring groove where the shift fork sits. When the driver operates the gear lever, it drives the shift fork shaft, which moves the shift fork, and the shift fork then pushes the gear to achieve gear shifting.
I encountered similar issues with my Baojun 510 automatic transmission. The most common problem was a malfunctioning shift mechanism. When the gear position sensor gets dirty or stuck, the ECU can't read the signal and fails to engage gears. Once after car washing, water seeped into the shift base, causing a short circuit in electronic components that completely disabled shifting - had to tow it for repairs. Cold starts in winter often cause gear sticking too; it improves when transmission fluid warms up, but frequent occurrences indicate the fluid needs changing. A faulty brake light switch is more troublesome - this vehicle requires brake pedal depression to shift gears, and switch failure will directly lock the gear position. If the transmission control module crashes, sudden gear engagement failure occurs, though restarting the vehicle provides temporary recovery, but electronic systems must be inspected promptly.
As a long-time owner of the Baojun 510 automatic transmission model, I believe gear engagement issues should be analyzed case by case. When starting a cold engine, the hydraulic system hasn't built up pressure yet - you need to warm up the car for 30 seconds before shifting. If you can't engage D gear during temporary stops, it's likely due to poor contact in the brake switch, as this car's design requires pressing the brake pedal to shift gears. After prolonged use, the shift cable may deform or loosen, causing misalignment between the gear lever position and actual gear. Also pay attention to the dashboard - if the transmission warning light comes on, it usually indicates stuck solenoid valves in the valve body, which costs about a thousand yuan to replace. Some owners who modified their seats might have blocked the floor shifter's movement space, causing mechanical interference that prevents gear engagement - simply restoring the factory settings will fix this.
I've dealt with numerous gear shifting issues on the Baojun 510 automatic transmission, which generally boil down to three main causes. First, inspect the shift lock mechanism - coins lodged in the gear slot can jam the mechanism, requiring center console disassembly for cleaning. Second is the transmission fluid; if unchanged beyond 60,000 km, it thickens and forms clots, causing sluggish hydraulic valve response, particularly noticeable in sub-zero winter temperatures. Lastly, electronic systems - the microswitch beneath the gear lever base is prone to water ingress and rust, with failure most likely after rainy days. For emergency situations, try a power reset: disconnect the battery negative terminal for ten minutes then reconnect to reset the transmission control module. For a permanent fix, visit a 4S shop to connect diagnostic equipment and read fault codes.
