Identifying Auto Service

If you own a car with a manual transmission, you must be among the people who fancy the convenience and thrill that come with such vehicles. A manual transmission gives you control over your car, allowing you to shift gears when you wish to. The transmission is also easy to maintain, and when properly maintained, it can provide excellent fuel efficiency. Unfortunately, this doesn't mean it is foolproof. One problem you may encounter is the car failing to shift gears even after engaging the clutch and stick. Below are some common causes of this problem and what you can do about them.

A Faulty Clutch or Clutch Master Cylinder

For you to shift gears in a manual car, you have to push in the clutch pedal and engage your desired gear. For you to shift gears, you have to disengage the engine's power flow to the transmission. This is what the clutch pedal does. Now, if the clutch or its master cylinder is faulty, it won't be able to disengage the engine. This will, in turn, cause your vehicle to fail to shift gears.

A bad clutch usually gives off warning signs before it fails, and these include the following:

• A burning smell every time you push the clutch pedal
• A sticky clutch pedal that fails to move
• Slipping gears

 The clutch master cylinder uses hydraulic fluid to operate. Thus, its failure usually results from a fluid leak. Get your car checked by a mechanic for a proper diagnosis and repairs.

Low Transmission Fluid

Manual transmissions use transmission or hydraulic fluid to operate. Unlike in automatic cars where the fluid provides power to the automatic transmission, this one lubricates the system and facilitates the functioning of the master cylinder. If the system is low on transmission fluid, the clutch won't be able to disengage the engine. This is also the case if the fluid is contaminated.

Low transmission fluid not only causes shifting problems, but it can also accelerate wear and tear of metal components due to friction. Thus, top up the fluid regularly and check for leaks. Also, carry out a system flush once in a while to get rid of old, contaminated transmission fluid.

Damaged Shift Selector Cable

The shift selector cable is a cable that connects the gearstick and the transmission. When you shift, this cable puts the transmission into the proper gear. If this cable is damaged, it won't allow the vehicle to change gears. In some cases, if the shift cable is stretched, it can choose the wrong gear as well. If you notice your car engaging a gear different from what you selected, the selector cable may be faulty.

A transmission that's failing to shift gears can be pretty frustrating. Luckily, most of these issues are easily solvable; visit your mechanic for a proper diagnosis and transmission repairs.