Is your gear lever sticking? Here’s what could be causing it: Jalopnik

A stuck gear lever is annoying. Maybe you’re like us when this happens and you immediately start to fear the worst. But don’t panic. Yes, a sticking or sticking shifter can be a sign that your transmission is failing. However, there are several possible causes for a sticky gear shift, and many of them can be remedied by simply flushing or refilling the transmission fluid. Other problems can be solved with measures that are much cheaper than having an expensive specialist take your transmission apart.

Some causes include low or dirty transmission fluid. It could be a clogged transmission filter. The shifting mechanism itself may be dirty. The gear cable may be worn or broken. Sometimes the shifting clutch needs some maintenance. Other possible causes of a completely stuck shifter include a faulty shift interlock solenoid or a broken brake light switch.

If you’re comfortable spending some time under the hood or under the car itself, you can fix many of these things yourself. Of course, if you’re going to replace the transmission filter or flush the fluid, be prepared for the mess. If DIY isn’t your thing, you can at least take some comfort in knowing that repairs for the problems we mention above are a lot cheaper than replacing or rebuilding the transmission itself. Unfortunately, if you have a deeper transmission problem, you will have to take the car to a transmission specialist.

So it’s clear that low transmission fluid is a problem. If you don’t have enough, the gears in the transmission won’t be adequately lubricated and there won’t be enough hydraulic pressure to force shifts in an automatic. But dirty transmission fluid can also be a problem, because dirty fluid does not lubricate properly. If the fluid is burned, which can be the case if the fluid is extremely dark or smells burnt, there is a chance that your transmission has already suffered damage from overheating. A clogged transmission filter could be the culprit as it can prevent the fluid from flowing properly. A faulty shift solenoid could also be to blame, as it is supposed to control the flow of transmission fluid.

There are also problems unrelated to transmission fluid that can cause a stuck gear lever. A worn clutch plate can cause gears to slip or stick. A dirty shift cable can also be the cause, and if the cable is worn or broken enough, it will not provide enough resistance to put the car into gear. You can also check the rest of the shift connection, the shift interlock solenoid, and the brake light switch.

Other than these solutions, probably the easiest thing to check is your transmission fluid. If the transmission fluid level is low, top it up and make sure you are using the correct fluid. If you are low on fluid, you will also want to check under the car for leaks. Also check the color of the liquid. If it is a darker color or has a burnt smell, flush and replace all the fluid. If you are changing the transmission fluid yourself, this is a good time to replace the filter if your transmission has one.

We couldn’t list or address all the possible causes for a stuck gear lever, but some DIY solutions include spraying some silicone lubricant on the shift linkage or trying to clean the shift mechanism, which you can often access through the underside of the gear lever in the console. Ultimately, you may just have to bite the bullet and take your car to a transmission specialist. However, the above solutions can be cheap and easy, and it wouldn’t hurt to give them a try.