Car won't shift anymore – what now?

Nina Geuskens
November 18 2022

It can happen that you have trouble shifting gears while driving. Suddenly, the car no longer shifts. You want to shift to another gear, but the gearbox does not want to cooperate. What should you do in such a case? And what are the possible causes of a car that no longer shifts? We would like to tell you more about that.

gear stick

Why does the car no longer shift gears?

If you have difficulty shifting gears in your car, if you hear strange noises when shifting gears or if the gearbox no longer shifts at all, this could have several causes.

Broken clutch

In most cases, a broken clutch is the culprit. The clutch only works when all gears have a free position and do not come into contact with other gears. In that case, you can 'disengage' the gears when you depress the clutch. If this does not happen, the gears are still connected and it is therefore not possible to shift. The clutch will then have to be replaced.

Worn gears/teeth on the wheels

A second possibility is that the rings of the gears are worn or that the teeth on the wheels are no longer good. This problem is not so common nowadays due to the high quality requirements of the materials. But every now and then this problem can occur due to unexpected combination of circumstances, pressure or dirt. In this case the gearbox will have to be replaced.

Stuck gears

The third possible cause is the seizing of the gears. This can occur when there is not enough oil or when floating dirt has become stuck in the gearing.
If this is the cause of the problem, you will have had trouble shifting your car for a few weeks. Seized gears are also often accompanied by strange noises when shifting, which can best be described as a sound of iron on iron, or creaking. If the gears are seized, it is necessary to change the oil and check the exact damage to the gearbox itself. With a bit of luck, the damage is limited and nothing else needs to be done.

Gear stick

Car no longer shifts into reverse – causes

If your car no longer goes into reverse, there could be several things wrong. For example, there may be insufficient transmission fluid available or that this fluid is contaminated. It could also be that the clutch is broken or that there is something wrong with the gearbox itself.

My car suddenly won't shift – what should I do?

If you notice that you can no longer reverse or change gear, it is wise to immediately pull over. If the car is in second gear and you only have a short distance to go, you could still drive home. However, this is not very safe. It is virtually impossible to brake on the engine and to accelerate when your car is no longer changing gear.

Our advice is therefore to immediately seek help from a garage. If you have a car rented in Sittard at Adrem and you notice that the car is no longer shifting, please contact us immediately. We will ensure that you can quickly get back on the road safely! The employees us car rental company in Limburg will of course arrange an alternative means of transport for you.

Would you like to drive more environmentally friendly? Then read this blog to find out how to do that!

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