--- title: Getting a Car That Won't Move to the Shop url: https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/getting-a-car-that-wont-move-to-the-shop/ business: A-1 Transmission (A-1 Transmission Inc) address: 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 phone: (775) 829-1333 hours: Monday to Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, closed Saturday and Sunday type: Transmission shop and auto repair shop in Reno, Nevada, since 1968; walk-ins welcome during business hours, appointments suggested --- - [Home](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/) - [Transmission guides](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/) - Getting a car that won't move to the shop # Getting a car that won't move to the shop If your car won't go into gear or won't move, get it somewhere safe, run through the basic checks, then call the shop before anything else. Arrange a tow with your roadside plan or a towing company, and tell the shop what the vehicle was doing so it is ready for you. [Call (775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) [Get directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=A-1+Transmission+Inc,+670+East+Grove+Street,+Reno,+NV+89502&destination_place_id=ChIJZfhkfH4_mYARqc7eV_uhOws)[What is it doing?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/#checker) 1968 In business since [4.6 ★ 112 Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/maps?cid=809418658926218921) ATRA Member shop M-F 7:30 am to 5:30 pm ## What to do when the vehicle will not move - Make it safe. Turn on the hazard lights. If it will roll, steer to the shoulder or a parking lot. Stay out of the lane and stand well away from traffic. - Run the basic checks. Foot on the brake, then try Park, Reverse and Drive again. Check the parking brake is fully off, the engine is running and no warning light is flashing. Note whether the engine revs without the vehicle moving. - Do not force it. Do not rock it back and forth or rev it hard against the transmission. That adds heat and wear. - Look under it. A red or brown pool under the front or middle of the vehicle points toward fluid loss. Take a photo of it if you can. - Call the shop. Call (775) 829-1333 and say what it did before it stopped. The shop is open Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. - Arrange the tow. Use your roadside plan or a towing company. Tell the driver the destination, 670 East Grove Street in Reno, once you have talked to the shop. A vehicle that will not move is stressful, especially if it stopped in traffic. This guide is the order to do things in. It does not replace a tow operator or emergency services if you are in danger on the road. ## At a glance - Safety first: lights on, off the traffic lane if you can - A few quick checks rule out the simple causes - Call the shop before the tow truck is booked - You arrange the tow and call the shop first ## What simple things can stop a car from moving? Before you assume a transmission failure, rule out the basics. A parking brake still engaged, a shifter that did not fully seat in Park or Drive, a brake pedal switch that fails, a very low fluid level, or a dead battery or a fault that prevents the vehicle from leaving Park can all look like a transmission problem. In an automatic, the pump that makes pressure runs only when the engine does, so a vehicle that stalls will not move in gear until it is restarted. The [won't go into gear page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/wont-go-into-gear/) lists the usual causes. ## What should I tell the shop? Describe the sequence: what you heard and felt, whether it moved at all, whether any warning light came on, how it behaved the last few days and whether any fluid is on the ground. The [call page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/call/) lists what is most helpful. The more the shop knows, the better it can plan, and it can tell you whether it makes sense to try anything before the tow. ## Who arranges the tow? You do. Check whether your insurance, your credit card, your auto club or the manufacturer's roadside program includes towing and how far it will go. If not, call a towing company. Book it yourself instead of waiting for the shop to send one. Mention to the operator that the transmission may not be in neutral. Flatbed transport is often used for vehicles that will not roll freely; the operator will know. ## What if it is after hours or a weekend? The shop answers Monday to Friday from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and is closed Saturday and Sunday. Holiday hours are not published, so call to confirm. You can arrange a tow and park the vehicle somewhere safe, then call when the shop opens. Read about what to expect on the [what to expect page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/what-to-expect/). ## What happens when it arrives? The shop diagnoses first and then explains what the vehicle needs, as stated on the [diagnosis page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-diagnosis/). You approve the work. The FTC advises getting an estimate in writing before work begins; see its auto repair basics page. ### Sources - [Auto repair basics, Federal Trade Commission](https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0211-auto-repair-basics) - [Automatic transmission, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission) - [NVRoads, Nevada Department of Transportation](https://www.nvroads.com/) Keep reading ## Related pages [Won't go into gear A car that won't go into gear either refuses the shifter, lets the engine rev with no motion, or selects a gear on the dial and does nothing.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/wont-go-into-gear/)[What to tell us when you call Have the year, make, model and mileage ready, then describe what it does and when it happens.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/call/)[Can you drive with a slipping transmission? You can sometimes drive a slipping transmission a short distance at gentle speeds, but it is a gamble: slipping makes heat and wears material away.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/driving-with-a-slipping-transmission/)[Transmission diagnosis Transmission diagnosis is the step where a mechanic finds out what is actually wrong before choosing a repair.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/transmission-diagnosis/)[What to expect at the shop Expect a phone call or a walk-in during business hours, a diagnosis, and a plain explanation of what your vehicle needs before any work.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/what-to-expect/) Guides ## More guides - [Independent transmission shop, dealer or chain?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/independent-shop-vs-dealer-vs-chain/) - [What ATRA membership means](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/what-is-atra/) - [What is a CVT?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/what-is-a-cvt/) - [How an automatic transmission works](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/how-a-transmission-works/) - [What a torque converter does](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/torque-converter-explained/) - [Rebuild or replace a transmission?](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/rebuild-vs-replace/) - [What affects the cost of transmission work](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-repair-cost-factors/) - [How long a transmission rebuild takes](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/how-long-a-rebuild-takes/) - [Questions to ask about a transmission warranty](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-warranty-questions/) - [How often to change transmission fluid](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/transmission-fluid-change-interval/) - [Transmission guides](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/) Answers ## Questions drivers ask Still have a question? Call [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) during shop hours. More answers are on the [questions page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/). ### Who tows my car to the shop? Arrange a tow with your roadside plan or a towing company, and call the shop first. ### Can I shift to neutral and push it? Only if it is safe and the vehicle is not in a traffic lane. If it is in danger, get everyone out and call emergency services. ### What if the car moves in Reverse but not Drive? Mention that to the shop. It is useful information and points to specific causes. ### Do I need an appointment? Appointments are suggested and walk-ins are welcome during business hours. Call first. ## Not shifting right? 670 East Grove Street, Reno, NV 89502 Monday to Friday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm [What to tell us when you call](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/call/) [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333)