Vehicles Reluctant to Move? Here Are the Causes of the Car's Gear Not Engaging

When driving a vehicle, the condition of the car's gear shift will certainly come into play. But what if the gear shift cannot engage? This will certainly endanger you. In fact, drivers often lose concentration due to the difficulty in shifting gears. So what are the causes of a car's gear shift not being able to engage? Here are the details.

1. Clutch Disc Too Thin

The first cause that prevents the gear shift from engaging is a clutch disc that is too thin. The clutch serves to disconnect and connect the power from the engine to the transmission.

When the rotational power from the engine is disconnected by the clutch, the gear shift can be moved or engaged easily.

However, if the clutch disc is worn or depleted, the transmitted power will not be optimal. If usually the vehicle can be driven when the gas pedal is pressed deeply, in this condition the vehicle will only move at high engine RPMs. 

This will certainly endanger the driver. Therefore, the only solution is to replace the clutch disc as soon as possible.

Specifically for hydraulic clutch systems, a leak in the clutch fluid can also be a cause of the gear shift not engaging. This can make it difficult for the transmission gears to be 'shifted' or may not engage at all. Replacing the faulty component is one of the solutions.

Read Also: Recognize 10 Symptoms of Transmission Problems to Avoid Severe Damage

2. Excessive Free Play in the Clutch 

Excessive free play in the clutch usually occurs in manual transmission vehicles. For example, when the engine is off, the gear shift can move between positions 1, 2, 3, and so on. 

However, when the engine is running, shifting gears will feel harder and sometimes may not engage at all.

If you force it, the transmission gears will suffer damage or make a loud noise when operated. If this problem occurs due to the free play setting being too loose, the only solution to the cause of the gear shift not engaging is to readjust the adjuster bolt to reduce the free play. 

3. Shift Lever Cable Jammed

In essence, this is a common issue that often occurs in every motor vehicle. The characteristic is that the gear shift lever will feel heavier and harder to move. 

Not only is it hard and heavy, but a jammed shift lever often makes it difficult to engage the gear when trying to accelerate.

Sometimes this happens due to insufficient clearance, preventing the transmission gears from shifting. As a result, the transmission gears cannot engage properly, making it difficult to shift gears. 

To address the cause of the gear shift not engaging, you should promptly take your beloved vehicle to the nearest workshop or authorized service center.

Comfort in driving is indeed a dream desired by everyone. However, no one knows when exactly a vehicle will experience a problem. For instance, when the gear shift cannot be engaged while driving. Therefore, it is advisable to pay attention to the causes mentioned above.

Read Also: This is the Cause of the Car Engine Dying When Pressing the Clutch