I'll get in my car to go somewhere and my gear wont shift down to Reverse or any gears. I sit there yanking on it and I'll sit there for about 10 minutes and I'll keep trying... sooner or later my gear will shift down to what i need but its such a pain in the butt becuz i'm always running late. I'm stepping on my brakes before i shift, im turning my wheel.. nothng seems to work... what is the cause of this? My car is an Automatic year 1998.. PLEASE... any help will do me good...
2006-06-06 06:16:22 · 10 answers · asked by Nik 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Linkage is possibly bent, or you may have a problem with the locking mechanism at the shifter. There is a locking mechinism in the shifter that when you apply the break, a pin is pulled so that the shifter can move. If it becomes jamed in some way, you would have this probllem.
2006-06-06 06:29:52 · answer #1 · answered by Databit42 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The first answerer has it right. Most of the time, this is because the car is parked on a hill with the wheel turned slightly. The weight of the car wants to make the car roll, which wants to make the wheel straighten, which puts pressure on the steering wheel, which puts pressure on the steering wheel lock pin whose job it is to keep the steering wheel from being able to turn while the car is in park.
To avoid this situation, use the parking brake when parking on a surface that isn't level. Not only is not doing so hard on that pin, it's also hard on the pin in the transmission that has to keep the axles from turning.
To fix it, turn the car on (so the power steering works) and set the parking brake. You should be able to turn the wheel a little bit in one direction or the other. After you do that, the transmission should come out of park easier, though the other pin (the one holding the axle) may need a small amount of force to come free. The parking brake will help reduce the strain on that pin a bit and will keep the car from lurching when it comes free.
2006-06-06 13:28:54 · answer #2 · answered by nwsayer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most automatic vehicles have a "Gear Shift Lock-Out" so you can not put the vehicle into gear unless the brake pedal is depressed. It's a safety feature to prevent the "sudden acceleration syndrome" from a few years back. Some of these lock outs are electrically controlled by a cable mounted solenoid, and some are controlled by a mechanical latch. Your best bet is to take it to the dealer and have the system checked. HTH!
2006-06-06 13:35:57 · answer #3 · answered by lugnutz59 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sounds like the safety switch went out. Try going to neutral before starting the car. keep your foot on the brake. Also try pushing the shift lever as far into park as it will go and then release the ignition switch lock. Hard to give a good answer on this with out looking at it my self. Be careful of getting to ruff with it or you'll cause more damage then you already have. Be patient and think about the proses of the shifting unit. Keep a cool head and you might be able to figure it out. Or get to a mechanic.
2006-06-06 13:34:26 · answer #4 · answered by gottaknow 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you parked on a hill when you do this? If so,you have the weight of the car on the parking pawl in the trans. Park your car on a level spot before shifting into park. If you can't park it on the level,engage the e brake before putting it in park.
2006-06-07 17:53:40 · answer #5 · answered by wolftatx2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your steering wheel is probably in the wrong position, pull on it while trying to put car in gear.
2006-06-06 13:20:45 · answer #6 · answered by DeltaQueen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stand up and go away from the computer as far as possible
2006-06-08 08:54:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to check the transmission fluid, most probably you ran low on that.
2006-06-06 13:24:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be bent linkage. See a mechanic.
2006-06-06 13:22:13 · answer #9 · answered by Tahavath 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have no clue....just get a new car
2006-06-06 13:21:20 · answer #10 · answered by Ava D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋