Reason for a Gear Sticky Shifter
Have you wondered Why is my gear shift harder, or maybe you looking for How do you fix a sticky shifter gear? Well, in this post, we will look at some reasons for a sticky shifter gear vehicles and how to fix them. Manual gears are designed to give you flexible control of your vehicle. However, this ‘ease of control’ comes at a cost because your gear is hard to move/change when you least expect it. Your manual gear shifters can be sticky for a variety of reasons.
Why Is My Gear Shift Harder?
So why is your gear shift hard to move? Your gear shift will become stiff if your transmission fluid gets contaminated or runs low. When the specified timeframe for changing transmission fluid is not followed, it will be difficult to shift gears. As straightforward as it might sound, this is a very common reason.
While low transmission fluid can be quite troublesome to deal with, problems with electronic sensors are another major cause to consider.
In summary, take your car to a mechanic shop with the appropriate testing tools if you want to diagnose the main issue with your gear shift.
An experienced mechanic will assist you in resolving the hard shifting issues in no time.
Continue reading to learn more about other reasons your gear shift has become stiff.
Why Is My Gear Stick Stiff When Cold?
Your gear stick gets stiff in cold weather due to transmission fluids with poor cold-flow characteristics.
The thickened transmission fluids will make shifting difficult until the fluid gets heated and returns to its original state.
The best fix to this issue is to use a premium synthetic transmission fluid.
When it comes to picking good transmission fluid, you can’t go wrong in picking synthetic options. Why? This is because, unlike conventional transmission fluids, they maintain their fluidity even in lower temperatures. In summary, utilizing premium synthetic fluid will help you prevent future issues while increasing your vehicle’s transmission lifespan and improving shift quality.
Other Reason for a Gear Sticky Shifter
1. Faulty shift cable
You will experience issues while shifting your car into gear if your shifter cable is strained or not aligned properly. The shifter cable connects the shift lever and the transmission shift. As a result of packing constraints, some car models lack a direct shifter connection. This fact is especially true for cars where the transmission and shifter are in separate areas of the vehicle.
2. Worn-Out hub sleeve
Issues are bound to arise when the hub sleeve is damaged or worn out. As a result, you will experience shifting stiff gears and jerky movements.
The hub gear’s sleeve performs the function of facilitating the seamless interaction between the primary gears. The hub sleeve can also be referred to as the synchronizer hub, and depending on which way the gear has shifted, it allows seamless movement to the right or left.
3. Sticky Valve and High-Pressure Issues
There are several parts of your car that are designed to work hand-in-hand to ensure it’s smooth running.
The high transmission line pressure and stuck valves are two major causes of your car shaking and being stiff when changing gears.
You will experience issues with a sticky valve and eventually stiff gears if the control surfaces in your car’s transmission are clogged.
4. Clogged Transmission Filter
Clogged transmission filters can also be a cause of experiencing stiff gears while driving. Checking your vehicle, you will be able to find this filter close to your gearbox.
When this filter gets clogged, your car will not be able to draw fluid out of your car’s oil reserve. This in turn puts a great deal of tension and strain on the pump causing tour gear to go stiff.
When your gear cannot move freely, it will damage other parts of your car.
5. Low-Grade Gear Oil
Low-grade gear oil works like cancer, damaging your engine slowly until it causes major damage. Cleaning out your old transmission fluid regularly and replacing it with a new (premium) one regularly is important for the smooth running of your car.
Your gears will not be able to function properly if the transmission fluid is of low quality. Even if faults do not occur immediately, they will pop up in the long run.
How Do You Fix A Sticky Shifter?
The main reason for your shifting issues will determine how to fix it. The most affordable issues to solve are probably air in your clutch lines or a requirement for clutch pedal adjustment.
Some familiar causes include bleeding brakes and the clutch. You will need to take your car to a mechanic to get a more efficient fix. An experienced technician will be able to pump the clutch pedal and a bleeder screw that needs to be loosened.Â
Your mechanic might choose to either repair the fluid lines or seal the leak if your transmission is dripping, depending on the state of your gear. However, it is more cost-effective to make this type of fix than to replace the whole transmission.
Why Does My Shifter Feel Sticky?
As your shifter ages and deteriorates, it will start to feel sticky. It is entirely normal for your sticker to deteriorate after years of heavy use and exposure to different environments.
Your shifter can be sticky for a variety of reasons. It’s important to seek the assistance of a skilled mechanic because it’s only possible to determine the root of the issue with prior experience.
How Do You Clean A Sticky Shifter?
Spray the sticky gearshift with the cleaner of your choice. Allow the cleanser to sit for a while so that it can break down the sticky substance. Then use a moist cloth to wipe it away.
After cleaning the gear, rinse the towel and give it another wipe to get rid of any leftover dirt. Although the stiff gear issue cannot be fixed by simply cleaning the sticky shifter, it can be considered a step in the right direction.Â
This is especially true if the issue stems from a leaking transmission, low transmission fluid, or other problems that can’t be resolved by merely cleaning a sticky manual shifter.
Conclusion
Has this article been of help to you? Whether it’s a sticky gear stick or a stiff gear, taking care of these issues is important to ensure the smooth running of your vehicle. Visit your mechanic to learn more about this issue and the best way to get your gear fixed.
Uchenna is a Radiographer and Auto parts mechanic who recently got his automotive diploma as an auto repair technician, and since then, has worked on fixing various car problems.
Working as just a radiographer, Uchenna didn’t just get all the fulfillment he desired, because he truly loved doing things tilted toward cars. As a kid, he would take apart his toy cars to see how they worked and would spend hours tinkering with his bike.
So, in 2017 he made the tough decision to become an auto mechanic. He threw himself into his studies and now loves every aspect of what he does.
He gets to work with his hands, solving problems and bringing cars back to life, and sharing his knowledge and easy quick-fix guide online are all part of what makes him feel fulfilled.
