As a result of the constant stress to which the manual transmission and clutch are subjected, most drivers are increasingly beginning to notice problems with shifting gears.
However, not everyone has time to respond to them in a timely manner, because often the only sign of a manual transmission malfunction is not fully engaging the gears or starting them with a slight stretch. Therefore, in order to avoid serious problems in the future, you should very carefully monitor such manifestations and promptly eliminate the cause that provoked their occurrence. It is better to immediately seek help from a car service center, for example, if you are from St. Petersburg, then here https://spb-avtoremont.ru/p264438239-remont-kpp-mkpp.html.
Finding the reason
The easiest way to determine why manual transmission gears do not engage is in two ways:
1. Stop the engine and turn up the speed - If nothing happens, then the problem is most likely due to faulty synchronizers or gears. To determine the culprit of the breakdown, the manual transmission will have to be disassembled.
2. Start the engine and put the car in gear - If it doesn't work, the problem is in the clutch. Most often, this malfunction is caused by problems such as insufficient lubrication, incomplete engagement of the clutch and lack of fluid in the drive hydraulic system. Moreover, the last malfunction is typical only for cars equipped with a hydraulic clutch.
In any case, in order to determine the true cause, you will have to remove the manual transmission and inspect the condition in which the clutch basket is located; if it is satisfactory, check the volume of fluid that is in the expansion tank and if it is insufficient, top up.
Common causes of gear shifting problems
There may be many reasons why you cannot move the gearshift lever to the working position. And they are not always associated with a malfunction of the box itself - in some cases the culprit is the clutch, sometimes the engine. In any case, to find out the cause yourself, you must have the appropriate knowledge and experience - otherwise there is a high risk that you will not be able to do this or that as a result of your actions you will have to carry out more complex and expensive repairs.
If the gears do not engage with the engine running due to a malfunction of the gearbox, it will require dismantling and troubleshooting - an operation that requires great care. The same can be said about the clutch. However, it is better to proceed to a more detailed description of possible problems and ways to eliminate them.
Insufficient lubrication
Despite the fact that if there is a lack of lubrication in a manual transmission, the gears are still engaged, shifting them can be quite difficult, since the gears cannot fully engage with each other. In addition, insufficient lubrication can even damage synchronizers over time.
Therefore, if you hear an unpleasant metallic grinding noise when changing gears, check the oil level in the manual transmission and inspect it for leaks. If any are present, replace all gaskets and seals. It would not be a bad idea to also change the oil seals located in the shank and on the input shaft.
Automatic transmission won't shift gears
Although the automatic transmission is maintenance-free, that is, it is designed for the entire life of the vehicle, it is also susceptible to breakdowns. However, here the reasons why gears are not changed when the engine is running are partly different. Let's look at them:
- failure of the rocker is a breakdown typical of older models of automatic transmissions. The slide cannot be repaired; the part must be replaced. And in most cases, you will have to remove the box to do this;
- The second common reason, which also occurs on cars with a manual transmission, is insufficient transmission oil level. Depressurization of the automatic transmission will be indicated by oil leaks, and their localization allows you to determine which gasket or oil seal is leaking. You can change the gaskets yourself, there is nothing complicated here. After replacement, it is necessary to change the oil, draining the old one. Since automatic transmission repair is the most expensive type of repair after engine overhaul, it needs to be looked after - checked for oil leaks every 2000 kilometers;
- When the control unit fails, the car becomes completely immobilized. Repair consists of replacing the faulty device and thoroughly inspecting the electrical path of the box.
Those malfunctions that are caused by internal reasons cannot be eliminated independently. Moreover, not all car services will undertake such work. In any case, if you have problems with shifting on a car with an automatic transmission, you should first perform computer diagnostics of the box.
Main problems and their solutions
If the previous checking methods did not yield anything and the malfunction that caused problems with shifting gears on the manual transmission is not determined, then you need to inspect the condition in which the clutch basket is located. The main impetus for this should be the fact that the gears stop shifting when the engine is running.
First of all, inspect:
• Release bearing – When in normal condition, its movement along the input shaft should not be hindered in any way. If it starts to jam in some places and it moves along them with difficulty, then this is the reason. However, do not worry, as it can be solved by simply replacing the problematic part.
• Disc wear – To determine how badly it has worn, disassemble the basket and visually assess its condition. There should be no carbon deposits on the friction linings, and the rivets under the disc should not be visible. If one of these problems is present, the disk will need to be replaced. Most likely, after this procedure the problem with switching gears will be solved.
• Malfunction of the basket itself – During long-term use of the car, the so-called “petals” that make up the basket wear out greatly, as a result of which they become very susceptible to high temperatures and can no longer cope with the removal of the pressure disk. Often, to determine the condition in which the petals are located, a simple visual inspection is sufficient - its petals will be deformed or show signs of overheating. In this case, the basket will have to be replaced.
• Hydraulic booster – If there is not enough fluid in the system or there is air in it, the gears on the manual transmission may periodically not turn on. To diagnose, inspect the reservoir and inspect all drive components, including hoses, tubes and release cylinder. All identified areas with leaks will need to be repaired and the system pumped.
Why is it difficult to engage manual transmission gears?
manual gear shifting
- The most common problem is clutch failure. In such a situation, reverse gear turns on with a bang. This happens because the gear overlaps the tooth. Reverse speed is the only gear in the box that does not have synchronizers. For this reason, clutch failure is so obvious on it.
- The second reason is a defect in the mechanism responsible for selecting the gear. This breakdown occurs when the car is stationary and you try to shift into gear.
- The third is severe wear of the gearbox synchronizers. Mostly, breakdowns occur with those that are most often used. These are first, second and third gear. Severe wear of the synchronizers only appears when switching while driving.
To prevent possible gearbox malfunctions, perform regular maintenance, change the oil on time, and in case of minor failures, rush for diagnostics . This will save you time and money in the future.
Watch the video for what not to do with a manual transmission:
https://youtu.be/FITVjH2s8es
What to do if it is difficult to engage reverse gear?
If you have difficulty engaging reverse gear, do one of the following :
- When you feel that the gear has not reached the end, release the clutch slightly, and the gear will be inserted all the way.
- Fully depress the clutch and only after a few seconds engage reverse gear.
- Depress the clutch, set the gear to neutral and release the clutch. After this, press down and engage reverse gear.
- Shift into reverse through another gear. For example, first engage 4th and then shift to reverse.
How to properly engage reverse gear on a Hyundai Solaris, watch the video:
It's hard to engage first gear
Many drivers who encounter this situation try to force the gearbox selector to engage 1st speed. But this is fundamentally wrong and should not be done this way.
In this situation, it is necessary to use the regas method . Its essence is as follows:
- While driving in second gear, depress the clutch and set it to neutral and then release the clutch.
- After this, you need to press the gas pedal, increasing the speed to 2.5 thousand.
- The next step is to engage the clutch again by pressing the pedal all the way and turn on the first gear on the gearbox. If you still have difficulties with this, then you need to repeat it, because... You gave too little gas, there were too few revolutions.
- If all the steps are performed correctly, the first speed will turn on without any difficulties or sounds.
However, this method should not be used on an ongoing basis when it is difficult to engage 1st gear. This method is temporary in order to at least get to the service station without any problems. In any case, the box will have to be repaired.
What to do when it’s hard to engage 1st gear on a car, watch the video from a driving instructor :
The procedure for replacing synchronizers requires experience, relevant knowledge and special tools, so it is better to contact professionals. Automotive technicians will perform the replacement quickly and efficiently, and will also advise you on further operation and maintenance of the box.
Clutch assembly
If in order to detect a problem with gear shifting you had to disassemble the clutch, be extremely careful when reassembling it. Tighten all threaded connections with extreme care. And be sure to center the clutch before installing the manual transmission. For this purpose, you can use either a special tool or the input shaft, which will have to be removed from the old gearbox.
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Theory of gearbox operation
At the moment, all modern gearboxes are equipped with synchronizers, which are important elements of the gearbox. The essence of how synchronizers work is that they equalize the operation of the gearbox shafts.
Every driver, when switching from second to first gear, has encountered a situation where some kind of obstacle was felt. What prevents you from engaging first gear while driving. This is the synchronizer.
If you have a fairly new transmission, then when switching from an upshift to a downshift you will not find yourself in such a situation. Switching will be carried out without problems. This manifests itself as the components of the unit are used and worn out.
Watch a video about the design and operating principle of the gearbox:
Why is it difficult for the gear lever to shift on a manual transmission?
- After the desired shift has occurred, you need to release the clutch pedal, there is no need to hold it! Because there is increased wear on the clutch disc
- It is advisable to move in the gear that corresponds to a given speed, this relieves both the engine and the gearbox from unnecessary loads, the best is 4th gear, also called “direct”, in this connection the minimum number of gears and all two shafts are occupied (in bypassing the intermediate). This reduces wear on the manual transmission
- A lower gear should be engaged when the speed decreases, just like an upshift when accelerating.
The main causes of malfunctions Mechanics, like automatic ones, are designed to transmit and change torque from the power unit to the wheels, and this must be done comfortably and dynamically. That is, the car must accelerate as quickly as possible and do this without any “jerks” of prohibitive engine speeds (so that it does not “growl like a victim”) and, if possible, have sufficient traction forces.
How often do you change the clutch disc?
There are no specific regulations here. Clutch disc life is a subjective concept. It all depends on the load - whether you used a trailer, how much you overloaded the car and how often you drove off with wheel slipping. Each blow from the flywheel falls precisely on the clutch disc, because its main task is to transmit torque, and to do this as smoothly as possible. The resource can range from 30 to 200 or more thousand kilometers. The service life directly depends on the driving style and vehicle loading conditions.
Transmission shafts
This is one of the rarest reasons, but it should not be excluded.
So, the gearbox shafts themselves fail. For example, second or fifth gear refuses to engage. The degree of wear can be determined only after dismantling the transmission and completely opening the elements. The shafts are not sharpened, but replaced with new ones. That's all.
Why haven't they abandoned manual transmissions yet?
Now, probably, many newcomers thought - “oh yes, “mechanics”, but who needs it, but now everyone drives an automatic transmission, and in general its days are numbered.” This is not entirely true, because this option has a lot of fans and real advantages, I won’t list them all, after all, we already thought - which is better than an automatic transmission or a manual transmission , but I will list some of the most significant ones:
- Price. As a rule, this option is 40 - 80,000 rubles cheaper than its automatic counterpart
- Fuel consumption, no automatic option has yet come close to it (but already quite a bit)
- Strength
- Simplicity of design
- Withstands heavy loads (accepts large torques )
- Temperature (difficult to overheat)
That is why this option is now used on many trucks, heavy SUVs, and many passenger cars. In general, it is premature to write off this unit, and now a version is being developed without a clutch pedal, that is, something like a semi-automatic transmission is switched manually, but there are no pedals.
For what reasons do interruptions occur?
There can be many reasons why gears do not shift when the engine is running. However, all of them, in one way or another, are connected with the two most important units of the car - the engine or gearbox. In case of serious damage, you should contact a good car service.
If the problem is in the gearbox, it will need to be removed for further disassembly and troubleshooting. If the problem is with engine components, they may need to be replaced. However, there are cases when, to eliminate a malfunction, it is enough to carry out preventive maintenance: removal, lubrication and careful adjustment of the components.
Clutch faults
Simply put, a clutch is a mechanism that transmits torque from the engine to the transmission and separates the engine and transmission so that gears can be changed. Damage to individual components of this unit may prevent accurate gear shifting while the engine is running.
Brake fluid leaks
Many modern cars are designed so that the brake fluid must be in the clutch. If there is not enough fluid in the hydraulic system, the clutch will not engage fully.
In this case, the gears will shift poorly or not shift at all. During the first inspection, check the fluid level in the reservoir. If the level is low, check for leaks, repair and bleed the clutch.
Release bearing
The gears may not engage or engage completely if the problem is in the clutch basket. The cause may also be the release bearing. If this bearing does not move freely on the main shaft or becomes stuck, it will need to be replaced.
Separately, it should be added that the main sign of problems with the clutch drum is the appearance of a rustling or pronounced rumble when the car is moving. Noises only occur when the clutch pedal is pressed to the floor. These sounds can be heard in both a cold and warm car. The noise should disappear when the clutch pedal is released. A stuck clutch disc will not engage, making it difficult to shift gears and can cause rapid wear and damage to other clutch components. grab
Clutch basket and disc
Separator malfunction is often associated with critical wear of the knives. Wear means that the basket stops functioning as it heats up. An increase in temperature means that the pressure plate cannot be fully retracted through the clutch basket. This results in very difficult gear shifting after the engine has warmed up a bit.
Once you remove it from the box, check the basket for deformation, signs of overheating, or other damage. If found, the element must be replaced.
After disassembly, check the friction linings on the disk. They should not be heavily worn, burned or damaged, and the plate should not be deformed. Additionally, when checking the clutch, check the diaphragm springs. After replacing damaged clutch components, the gearbox must be properly adjusted and the clutch must be bled during reassembly.
