Imagine you’re in a hurry to get somewhere, so you get into your car, start the engine, and change gear from Park to Drive or Reverse, but nothing happens. This can be a problematic situation and may leave you confused about what to do next. If your car won’t move in any gear and uses an automatic transmission, you’ve come to the right place because we have a few fixes for you.
We’ll explore why your car won’t move in any gear with an automatic transmission, what causes this problem and how to fix it.
An automatic transmission is a transmission system found in modern cars and does not require the driver’s input to change forward gears when driving normally. Like the name, the car automatically changes gear when needed, making driving easier than traditional manual transmission cars.
If you have a car or truck that won’t move in any gear and uses an automatic transmission, here are some of the likely causes:
This is a common reason why your automatic car won’t move in any gear. It is quite easy to spot the sign of a bad automatic transmission control unit, as the dashboard will show an incorrect gear compared to the shifter’s position.
The torque converter is an important part of the transmission system and is responsible for transferring power from the gearbox to the wheels and engine. If it develops a fault, it can cause serious problems like the car not moving in any gear, noises in the transmission when starting the car, and stalling when trying to switch from one gear to another.
The clutch is responsible for enabling and disabling power transmission in a vehicle, and when the clutch is damaged due to wear and tear, it affects the power transmission. A faulty or damaged clutch can lead to the car not moving in any gear, especially automatic transmission cars. If the problem is with the clutches, you will notice your car unable to move when in reverse gear, switch to third gear, and hear blows when changing gears.
The transmission fluid is used to transfer power in your car, if there is a shortage of transmission fluid, the gear system cannot deliver the power required to move, and could lead to the car not moving in any gear.
Another reason why your car won’t move in any gear is a faulty automatic transmission valve body. The automatic transmission valve body is a maze-like control center made up of valves, solenoids,, and passageways that send transmission fluid needed for gear changes. As the distribution medium for transmission fluid, if it develops a fault, it would disrupt the transfer of power from the gear system to different parts of the car and could be responsible for your car not moving in any gear.
Unfortunately, there is no quick-and-easy fix for a car that won’t move in any gear, especially in an automatic transmission car, other than to replace the whole transmission. Repairing is an option for older vehicles, but replacement is the best overall.
If your automatic transmission car is not moving in any gear, it can be a costly problem that will require replacing the entire transmission. Here are a few measures you can take to prevent this from happening to your car.
One possible reason could be that the transmission fluid level is too low. Perform regular check-ups, so you know when the fluid level is low and refill it.
Some of the signs that tell you that your automatic transmission is going out are:
All of these signs can point to a problem with the transmission and should be rectified as soon as possible
There are a few signs that your transmission needs changing; difficulty in switching gears, the “check engine” light staying on, a dragging clutch, burning smell, and leaking fluids. If you notice any of these signs, you should get your car checked out immediately.
It could be due to a number of factors, some of which include a high gas mileage and poor maintenance. Regular check-ups will go a long way to combating this.
This could be a result of a low transmission fluid level or a clutch failure.
This could be indicative of a transmission control solenoid problem. Go get it checked out at a mechanic shop to fix it and replace the affected parts if necessary.
In conclusion, the transmission of your car can wear out like any other part, However, by following the steps highlighted above, you can prevent your car from not moving in any gear, if it’s an automatic transmission car.
