Manual trans stuck in first gear?

[ghaberek]

Earlier today, I turn right onto a busy street with some oncoming traffic about 1/4 mile down the road. I get on it kind of hard because the speed limit is 50 mph and the traffic usually goes faster than that. Mind you, I make this same turn several times per week.

As I go to shift into second, while still trying to accelerate at a strong pace, nothing happens when I pull back on the shifter. I start to coast and let off the clutch and realize the trans is still in first gear. The shifter will move back but not forward or side-to-side. I checked the cables under the shifter boot and under the hood as best I could see but nothing looked out of place.

Luckily, I was only a couple miles from the Chevy dealer so I limped there through the back roads at about 15 mph. They won't be able to look at it until tomorrow. The car is still under warranty at 32k miles.

I'm not looking for help, per se, but I am curious if this has happened to anyone else and what might have caused it. I have only had the car for a couple months and only put about 1,000 miles on it so far.

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[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Earlier today, I turn right onto a busy street with some oncoming traffic about 1/4 mile down the road. I get on it kind of hard because the speed limit is 50 mph and the traffic usually goes faster than that. Mind you, I make this same turn several times per week.

As I go to shift into second, while still trying to accelerate at a strong pace, nothing happens when I pull back on the shifter. I start to coast and let off the clutch and realize the trans is still in first gear. The shifter will move back but not forward or side-to-side. I checked the cables under the shifter boot and under the hood as best I could see but nothing looked out of place.

Luckily, I was only a couple miles from the Chevy dealer so I limped there through the back roads at about 15 mph. They won't be able to look at it until tomorrow. The car is still under warranty at 32k miles.

I'm not looking for help, per se, but I am curious if this has happened to anyone else and what might have caused it. I have only had the car for a couple months and only put about 1,000 miles on it so far.

Sent from my XT1097 using Tapatalk

Hi Greg,

I know you are seeking some advice from the other members here on the forum. However, I would be more than happy to reach out to the dealership on your behalf if necessary. Feel free to send me a private message if additional assistance is needed! We look forward to your updates throughout the day.

Patsy G
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[ghaberek]

Thanks Patsy but that won't be necessary. Turns out it the shifter cable clip detached from the bottom of the shifter. Quick fix by the technician at the dealership. I will keep an eye on it and hopefully it won't happen again.

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[Hawkdsl]

Glad its fixed without Hazel, but Im sure that was a bit scary!

 

[Natesriv]

Just happened to me yesterday

I was doing a U-turn, took off a little hard (spun the tires)..and when going into 2nd it ground pretty hard..... shifter felt weird.

Jammed it down into 2nd, then suddenly it felt weirder...I put it into 1st and that was it.... the shifter then only moved forwards and back, no side to side. And I had nothing but 1st gear and no neutral.

Was able to limp home... Took off shifter boot, noticed the linkage on the right had popped out of its cradle... Put it back in place, problem solved.

Not sure what caused it to pop out, probably me being too hard on the take off bound the engine/tranny and put a reverse stress on the linkage and it just popped out of its cradle.....

Running fine now, but was quite scary!

:banana:

 

[spacedout]

Not sure what caused it to pop out, probably me being too hard on the take off bound the engine/tranny and put a reverse stress on the linkage and it just popped out of its cradle.....

Running fine now, but was quite scary!

:banana:

Once I borrowed a car from my brother that was some import POS with a 5 speed. At the time I had only every driven older american cars with durable metal linkages. getting on the car, slamming it into gear I ended up stretching the cable to the point it would not shift out of 3rd. Boy was that an interesting drive home.

The car was a beater but I knew my brother needed it to get back and forth to work. There was so many other things wrong with it I decided instead of fixing what I broke I went and bought a used Chevy Cavalier for him, he still wasn't very happy when I picked him up. I did feel better when the car I bought him lasted 3+ years with no repairs necessary and little maintenance on his part.

Ever since then If I ever drive a modern manual car I baby that shifter.

 

[Natesriv]

yeah, no hard take offs if wheel's aren't pointing straight ahead!

I do think I'll get a tranny mount to stiffen the torque on the engine a little... the lower one perhaps.