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My gear shift doesn’t shift to any other gear its stuck on neutral. I open the gear assembly and I can pull a lever which allows me to move it.

The gear doesnt shift and its stuck on neutral i open the shift assembly and theres a lever if i move it it lets me move the gear shift but it doenst actually register and its stuck on neutral

My car has 155000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. The shifter interlock solenoid is not working and needs replaced. The shifter interlock solenoid makes the shifter lock in place so it does not move if you accidentally move it into another gear. If you need further assistance with your shifter not working, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Transmission won`t engage or stay in gear

If when you put your vehicle into gear and it won`t move, this may be a problem with low transmission fluid due to a leak, the shifter, shifter cable, or it could even be a problem in the valve body of your automatic transmission.

Check to see if the brakes are applied and see if the master cylinder is full of brake fluid. If you need further assistance with your vehicle not moving when putting the transmission in drive or reverse, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
In general, the torque converter includes components like a pump, a stator, and a turbine. Any one of these could become faulty, which can cause slipping when your transmission shifts gears. It can also keep the transmission from successfully shifting at all.
You experience delayed gear shifting and a sense of pulling or slipping when trying to shift between gears. The vehicle will not downshift as you slow down. An inability for the solenoid valve to operate may prevent your car from downshifting, and the engine will continue to rev as you attempt to brake.
For example, a faulty brake switch is a common culprit because it causes the shift interlock to act as if the brake was never depressed. A defective solenoid, broken shifter cable, and worn-out shift lock override switch can cause your car to get stuck in the shift lock.
Your manual transmission gears see a lot of use and over time, they will begin to wear down. The normal wear and tear can cause sticking of the gearshift as the gears fail to engage. This does tend to happen more often with the first two gears because they are the ones that are shifted to and from most often.
Get a key, small screwdriver, nail file, or any object with a similar shape. Insert it into the override slot, then push it down and hold it in place. While holding the shift override mechanism, depress the brake pedal. Hold the shifter, then push the button on the shifter as you`d normally do.
Shifting Problems– Clogged filters will make it hard to switch gears. If your car isn`t shifting smoothly, or if it hesitates or slips when you try to shift, you could have any number of transmission problems, so it`s best to have a professional look at it.
Hard, and sometimes impossible shifting into first and reverse is caused by the clutch disc not moving away from the spinning flywheel. This is commonly referred to as the “clutch is not releasing”. The number one cause is the hydraulic system that operates the clutch is leaking and has low fluid.
Turn off your vehicle`s ignition and wait patiently for 5 to 10 seconds. Start the engine and allow it to idle for several seconds. Switch off the ignition and wait patiently for another 30 to 40 seconds. Repeat these steps 2 to 3 times in order to reset your vehicle`s transmission control module.
Turn off your vehicle`s ignition and wait patiently for 5 to 10 seconds. Start the engine and allow it to idle for several seconds. Switch off the ignition and wait patiently for another 30 to 40 seconds. Repeat these steps 2 to 3 times in order to reset your vehicle`s transmission control module.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

My gear shift doesn’t shift to any other gear its stuck on neutral. I open the gear assembly and I can pull a lever which allows me to move it.
ANSWER : Hi there. The shifter interlock solenoid is not working and needs replaced. The shifter interlock solenoid makes the shifter lock in place so it does not move if you accidentally move it into another gear. If you need further assistance with your shifter not working, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.

Car in park shifter will move through gears but wont shift through the gears its stuck in neutral have emergency brake on so it wont roll
ANSWER : From what you’ve described, it sounds like the shifter cable came off at the transmission or the shifter. I’d suggest checking the shift linkage on the transmission to see if the cable came off. This is due to the connector end bushing falling apart and not being able to hold the cable on any longer. Some cables have to be replaced as a whole and as with others the bushing can be replaced to fix the cable. I’d suggest contacting a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, who can come diagnose your shifting issue and make the necessary repairs to your vehicle. Good luck.

Car begins to roll when the shift lever is in park had only starts in the neutral position, just rebuilt the transmission
ANSWER : The neutral start safety switch could be misaligned or a fault in the linkage and./or cable could be contributing to the problem because "Park" is not actually reached when you move the shifter. The whole mechanism from the manual lever on the transmission up to shifter will have to be inspected. The manual lever should be inspected separately inasmuch as you indicate abnormal resistance in certain gear selections. In addition, it sounds like the shift interlock may not be functioning. The recommended service to obtain a diagnosis of all of these issues is a shift linkage/interlock inspection. If you request that service, the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

The car doesn’t shift into first gear while it works fine in reverse
ANSWER : The problem could be that the internal transmission pump is weak, or the transmission clutch seals are leaking. It sounds like the transmission will need an overhaul.

I recommend having a transmission mechanic test the pressures and diagnose the problems to verify whether you need an overhaul with a new torque convertor.

the car will not shift into any gear, but the gear shift moves

Gear shift is broken off. The car is stuck in park and cannot be moved – 2002 Ford Explorer
ANSWER : Hello. If your vehicle’s shifter was broken, then it will need to be replaced before the vehicle can be driven again. Once the shifter is replaced, I would also recommend taking care of the issue that is requiring you to use the key in order to shift the vehicle. It sounds like your vehicle’s shifter interlock solenoid may be bad, as the vehicle should not have trouble shifting out of park under normal circumstances.

Similar issues can also be caused by wiring problems or an issue with the stoplight switch. I would recommend having a professional technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to diagnose the cause of the stuck shifter.

my gear shift is hard to move and keeps getting stuck
ANSWER : Try to move through the gears with the engine off and clutch pedal pushed in. If it is still hard then you may have bad synchronizers inside of the transmission. First, I would have the clutch rechecked to make sure that it is fully disengaging when you push in the clutch.

If it’s hard to put it in first gear with the engine running but goes into any other gear without a problem, and the vehicle does not move, even though the clutch is in, then you have bad synchronizers or blocking rings inside of the transmission. If the vehicle feels like it wants to move, then it is the clutch not disengaging properly and may need to have it bled of air, or you may have an internal clutch problem. Have a mechanic come and check it out for you to fix your shifting issue.

Sometimes I feel resistance from my gear shifter when shifting and need to use extra force in order to change gears.
ANSWER : Hello.

From what you describe it appears that you may possibly have a worn out transmission shifter bushing. This is component serves as a linkage bushing for the shifter, to the transmission. It is made of plastic, and thus, is susceptible to breaking or wearing out.

The shifter bushing, or bushings, are located at the base of the shifter, and will require disassembly of the vehicle’s interior to access. If the bushings are okay, then it may be possible that something is lodged in the shifter mechanism, and is jamming the shifter.

If you’d like to get this fixed, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come diagnose your shifting issue firsthand and help you fix it accordingly.