--- title: Car Won't Go Into Gear: Causes and What to Do | A-1 url: https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/wont-go-into-gear/ 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 symptoms](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/) - Won't go into gear # 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. The usual causes are very low fluid, a broken shifter cable or linkage, a faulty range sensor, or a failed internal part such as the pump or torque converter. [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 Do not drive it, plan a tow Do not force the shifter or rev the engine to make it grab. If the vehicle will not move, arrange a tow with your roadside plan or a towing company and call the shop first. If it moves in only some gears, the shop can tell you how far is reasonable. Driving now can turn a smaller repair into a bigger one. Call (775) 829-1333 to talk it through, and arrange a tow with your roadside plan or a towing company. ## Common causes - Very low fluid With no fluid in the pump's supply, an automatic builds no pressure and nothing engages. A sudden loss usually means a big leak or a burst cooler line. - A shifter cable, bushing or linkage failure A cable that stretches, a worn bushing or a missing clip lets the lever move without moving the transmission, so the dial and the transmission disagree. - A range sensor or neutral safety switch fault This switch tells the computer which position you selected and allows starting only in Park or Neutral. When it fails, the vehicle may refuse to start or refuse to move. - A failed internal part, pump or torque converter A broken pump drive, a failed converter or a destroyed clutch pack leaves the engine running while nothing reaches the wheels. There are two very different versions of this problem. In one, the lever feels loose, as if it is not connected to anything. In the other, the lever moves normally but the vehicle goes nowhere. ## At a glance - A loose shifter often means cable or linkage; a normal shifter with no motion often means inside - Check the puddle: a large leak can mean there is no fluid left - Manuals and automatics fail this way for different reasons - Forcing it can add damage ## Automatic or manual? In a manual, the usual suspects are on the pedal side: a clutch that no longer releases because of a hydraulic leak or a broken part, which makes shifting impossible without grinding. In an automatic the likely story is fluid, a linkage problem or something inside. If you have a clutch pedal, [clutch slipping or grabbing](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/clutch-slipping-or-grabbing/) covers that side. ## Safe things to notice, not to try - Does the lever move through every position, and does it feel springy or slack? - Does the gear indicator on the dashboard match where the lever points? - Will it start in Park and in Neutral, and only in those two? - Is there fresh red or brown fluid under the vehicle? - Is there a grinding or rattling sound when you try a gear? ## What to avoid Do not rev the engine with the lever in gear, and do not keep working the lever hard. If a linkage is bent or a cable has slipped off, force can bend the next part. If the problem is inside, extra tries just add noise and heat. A tow is cheaper than a second repair. ## Getting it to the shop If you are stranded, stay in a safe spot and ask your roadside plan or a towing company for a tow, then call the shop so they know it is coming. The [getting a car that won't move to the shop](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/getting-a-car-that-wont-move-to-the-shop/) guide lists what to say to a dispatcher and what to bring. Stock photo: Reading codes with a diagnostic scanner. ## What the shop checks first Fluid level and condition come first, then the shifter cable and linkage at the transmission end, then the range sensor. If those are in order, the focus moves inside. A scan for codes helps; a code such as the P0705 range sensor circuit can narrow the field before anything comes apart. ### Sources - [Automatic transmission, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission) - [Manual transmission, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_transmission) - [Automatic transmission fluid, Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_transmission_fluid) Keep reading ## Related pages [Transmission fluid leak (red or brown fluid) A transmission fluid leak shows up as red, pink or brown oily fluid on the ground, usually near the front or middle of the vehicle.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/fluid-leak/)[Delay when shifting into Drive or Reverse Delayed engagement is a noticeable pause between moving the shifter into Drive or Reverse and feeling the vehicle take hold, often ending in a thud.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/delayed-engagement/)[How an automatic transmission works A transmission works by matching the engine's narrow range of useful speed to the wide range of speeds a vehicle needs, using gear ratios.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/how-a-transmission-works/)[Signs your transmission needs attention The signs your transmission is going out are slipping gears, shifts that are harsh or late, a delay going into Drive or Reverse.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/guides/signs-your-transmission-is-failing/) Services ## Work that fixes this [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/)[Automatic transmission repair Automatic transmission repair covers the gear sets, clutches, valve body, torque converter and electronics that shift for you.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/automatic-transmission/)[Standard (manual) transmission repair A standard, or manual, transmission is the gearbox you shift yourself with a clutch pedal and a shifter.](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/services/manual-transmission/) Symptoms ## Other symptoms - [Transmission overheating](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/overheating/) - [Shudder or vibration (torque converter)](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/shudder/) - [Limp mode / stuck in one gear](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/limp-mode/) - [4WD noise or 4WD not engaging (transfer case)](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/4wd-noise-or-not-engaging/) - [Clutch slipping, grabbing or hard to press](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/clutch-slipping-or-grabbing/) - [Transmission slipping](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/transmission-slipping/) - [Hard, harsh or late shifting](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/harsh-or-late-shifting/) - [Delay when shifting into Drive or Reverse](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/delayed-engagement/) - [Whining, grinding or clunking](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/noise-whining-grinding/) - [Transmission fluid leak (red or brown fluid)](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/fluid-leak/) - [Burning smell](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/burning-smell/) - [Check engine light and transmission codes (P0700-P07xx)](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/check-engine-light-transmission-codes/) - [Transmission symptoms](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/symptoms/) Answers ## Won't go into gear questions Still have a question? Call [(775) 829-1333](tel:+17758291333) during shop hours. More answers are on the [questions page](https://a1transmissionrenonv.com/faq/). ### Why won't my automatic go into Drive or Reverse? Common reasons are low fluid, a cable or linkage that has let go, a range sensor fault or an internal failure. The pattern, such as loose lever or normal lever, narrows it. ### Can low transmission fluid stop a car from moving? Yes. Without enough fluid the pump cannot build pressure and no gear can engage. That usually points to a significant leak. ### My engine runs but the car won't move. Is that the transmission? Often, yes. It can also be a broken axle or driveshaft, so the mechanic checks the whole driveline. ### Should I push it or tow it? Do not push or tow it far without guidance. Some vehicles need their drive wheels lifted when towed. Call the shop and say how it is set up. ## 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)