It can happen that you have trouble changing gears while driving. Suddenly, the car won't change gears anymore. You want to shift into another gear, but the gearbox refuses to cooperate. What should you do in such a situation? And what are the possible causes of a car that won't change gears anymore? We'd be happy to tell you more about that.
Why is the car not changing gear anymore?
If you're having trouble changing gears in your car, if you hear strange noises while changing gears, or if the gearbox isn't changing gear at all, there can be several causes.
Broken clutch
In most cases, a faulty clutch is the culprit. The clutch only works when all the gears are in a neutral position and not in contact with other gears. In that scenario, you can ‘disengage’ the gears by pressing the clutch pedal. If this doesn't happen, the gears are still engaged, making it impossible to change gear. The clutch will then need to be replaced.
Worn gears/teeth on wheels
A second possibility is that the teeth of the gears are worn or that the meshing on the wheels is no longer good. This problem is no longer very common nowadays due to the high quality requirements for materials. However, now and then this problem can occur due to an unexpected combination of circumstances, pressure or dirt. In this case, the gearbox will have to be replaced.
Worn gears
The third possible cause is jammed gears. This can happen if there is no longer enough oil or if loose debris has become lodged in the teeth.
If this is the cause of the problem, you will have been experiencing difficulties changing gears for a few weeks. Jammed gears are also often accompanied by strange noises when changing gears, which can best be described as a grinding sound, or creaking. If the gears have jammed, it will be necessary to change the oil and check the exact damage to the gearbox itself. With a bit of luck, the damage will be limited and nothing further will need to be done.
Automatic gearbox won't go into reverse – causes
If your car is no longer going into reverse, there could be several issues. For example, there might not be enough transmission fluid, or the fluid could be contaminated. Furthermore, the clutch might be broken, or there could be a problem with the gearbox itself.
My car has suddenly stopped changing gear – what should I do?
When you notice you can no longer reverse or change gears, it is advisable to pull over immediately. If the car is stuck in second gear and you only have a short distance to go, you might be able to drive home. However, this is not very safe. It is almost impossible to brake using the engine or to accelerate when your car won't change gears.
So our advice is to get help from a garage straight away. Do you have a Car hired in Sittard At Adrem, if you notice the car is no longer shifting gears, contact us immediately. We'll ensure you can get back on the road safely in no time! Our staff Car hire company in Limburg naturally arrange alternative transport for you.
Would you like to drive more environmentally consciously? Read in this blog how you do that!
