Reasons manual transmission won't engage any gear

Driving with a problematic vehicle such as manual transmission won't engage any gear will mess up your day. There are many reasons manual transmission won't engage any gear, especially for the transmission and clutch systems. So here they are, the most common reasons for manual transmission won't engage any gear.

1. Stuck shifting cable

The first reason manual transmission won't engage any gear is that the shifting cable is stuck. A shifting cable is used to move the selector shaft in manual transmission. It's connected to the shifting lever inside the car.

When the shifting cable is stuck, then they can't move the transmission lever. As the transmission lever can't move, the transmission gears won't engage. Most shifting cables are built by a twisted wire cable. As time goes by, the wire will get corroded and broken, making the shifting cable stuck.

2. Shifting cable bushings are worn out

The second reason manual transmission won't engage any gear is that the shifting cable bushings are worn out. Most manual transmissions use bushings (were built by rubber) at the end of the shifting cable. It connects between the shift lever and the selector on the manual transmission.

If the shifting cable bushings are worn out, then the connecting point will have a larger distance to disrupt the gears shifting points. Then the result is manual transmission will not engage in any gear.

3. Clutch cable stuck or broken

The third reason manual transmission won't engage any gear is the clutch cable is stuck. This condition will only be faced by cars with clutch systems were using a wire cable. Common problems for clutch cable are because of corrosion and broken wire, which can make the clutch cable get stuck.

The symptoms if you get stuck clutch cable is your clutch pedal is hard to press. And if your clutch cable has broken, then you may find that your clutch pedal is lighter to push.

4. Empty fluid on Clutch master cylinder

The fourth reason manual transmission won't engage any gear is that there is no fluid (clutch fluid) inside the clutch master cylinder. Clutch fluid works as a hydraulic system to move the clutch fork lever.

If there is no clutch fluid inside your clutch master cylinder, then you'll find that your clutch pedal will be lighter to press, and your manual transmission will not engage in any gear.

5. Vapour lock in clutch hydraulic piping

The fifth reason manual transmission won't engage in any gear is a vapor lock in clutch hydraulic piping. Vapor lock is a phenomenon inside hydraulic piping that consists of an air bubble.

The existing air bubble inside the pipe will reduce the fluid pressure energy. As the pressured energy is reduced, the clutch won't work normally and causes the manual transmission won't engage any gear.

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6. Worn out the clutch disc and clutch cover

Worn-out clutch disc and clutch cover can be reasons why the manual transmission won't engage any gear. Worn-out clutch disc and clutch cover will disrupt the engage and disengage process of the engine power flow to the transmission. Read: Car Clutch Components And Function

In several cases, the clutch disc debris would be stuck on the clutch cover so the engine and the transmission would always be connected. This connection makes the input shaft transmission rotate and makes the manual transmission will not engage in any gear.

7. Corroded input shaft spline

The seventh reason manual transmission won't engage any gear is that the input shaft spline is corroded. The input shaft spline is always connected to the clutch disc. When the engage and disengage clutch process happens, the clutch disc will glide among the spline.

When the spline corroded, the clutch disc won't glide and will stick to the pressure plate on the clutch cover. This condition makes the input shaft is constantly rotating. The rotating spline will cause the transmission gears to rotate too and make the manual transmission will not engage in any gear.

8. Incorrect clutch pedal adjustment

Another reason manual transmission won't engage any gear is because of incorrect clutch pedal adjustment. There are two common things for clutch pedal adjustments, clutch pedal height, and clutch pedal free play.

The most clutch pedal adjustment was caused manual transmission won't engage any gear is the clutch pedal free play. Incorrect clutch pedal free play will cause the engine to be always connected to the transmission so that the manual transmission gears won't engage.

9. Bad transmission

The last reason manual transmission won't engage any gear is that your car has a bad transmission. Lack of transmission fluid and overused will make the components of the manual transmission worn out. And for gears that won't engage is mainly because the synchronizer gears are worn out.