The transmission in your Volkswagen is mandatory to the car’s normal.
The car’s performance likely diminishes when your manual transmission begins to deteriorate or encounters a breakdown, such as the VW golf won’t move when in gear.
To this end, your Volkswagen’s transmission must go for the correct maintenance and proper repair.
Scroll down and get the reveals to best detect and tackle all faults surrounding the problem.
VW Golf Won’t Move When In Gear: 3 Root Causes
Why do manual transmissions go into gear but won’t move? There are 3 common reasons for this matter: the lack of transmission fluid, clogged transmission filter, and worn-out clutch components.
Lack Of Transmission Fluid
Low transmission fluid levels often lead to transmission problems, and the car goes in gear but doesn’t move accordingly.
It plays a crucial role in helping the gears to shift adequately and the automobile’s overall performance.
Hence, check whether there is any transmission leak when you notice the transmission’s function is no longer as good as expected.
Use a fluid dipstick to check the amount of fluid available. If needed, top the liquid off.
Clogged Filter
A transmission filter halts dangerous pollutants and dust from ruining the transmission.
Once it gets clogged, your current transmission system will run a risk of damage accordingly. Notably, your VW or BMW goes into gear but won’t move in such a case.
A blocked filter gets started with a whining sound. When it worsens, the car is difficult to turn over.
Typically, you should alter this part after two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Worn-Out Clutches
Regarding the impaired function of the transmissions, the clutches may be one of the leading causes. The car model can’t move when the clutches fail.
To explain, the clutch discs connect the transmission directly. Their failure might come with several signs and issues.
During gear changes, a blowing or a grinding sound can pop up before the automobile reaches a complete stop. You can also observe a harsher transition between gears.
How Do I Know If My VW Transmission Is Bad? – 3 Sure Signs
Squealing Noises
If the car in gear but won’t move with squealing or any strange noises from the transmission, they may be the surest signs of amiss things inside your engine.
Perhaps, the common transmission gears get worn down due to tear and wear or age over time, ending up with poor performance.
Shifting Out Of Gear
It requires urgent repair. If this happens on the go, the car barely moves in gear.
Keep calm and stay safe by avoiding collisions and responding rapidly to any risks. Try all-out efforts to maintain control of your VW.
Still, it’s even more dangerous if the gears start slipping or shifting.
Burning Smell
When the automatic transmission goes into gear but won’t move along with a burning smell, you should know something is very problematic.
Your transmission could be overheated, possibly posing a risk to you and others surrounding you by starting a fire.
Car Doesn’t Move In Drive Even When In Gear: How To Fix?
Step 1
Ensure that your car is started. It seems obvious, but some vehicles run so quietly that you may believe they are on when they aren’t.
Step 2
Ascertain that the parking brake or emergency brake is disengaged. It can stop the car from moving even if the gears work properly.
Step 3
Sometimes, the shifter moves but doesn’t change gears. If it has a manual transmission, ensure the shifter is entirely in gear.
Or the clutch pedal is not depressed properly for the shifter to engage gears fully.
Try to put the shifter into gear by pressing the clutch pedal to the floor, then accelerate. After placing the shifter into gear, you must release the gas pedal to put the vehicle into gear.
Step 4
Consider shifting up a gear when you begin. Try the reverse and all other gears. This aids in identifying whether the issue is with the entire transmission or a specific gear.
Step 5
If your internal transmission is an automatic one, check the fluid. The car’s manual depicts the transmission dipstick’s location. Set the vehicle in Park using the parking brake and start the engine.
Afterward, remove the dipstick, clean it with a clean towel, and reinstall it to check the transmission fluid. Take out the dipstick once again to inspect the fluid’s level, color, and smell.
Try topping off your fluid while it turns low to get closer to the “Cold” or “Hot” zones. When you notice the brown or dark fluid with a burning smell, your transmission is running a risk.
Step 6
After taking out your center console and gear shift boot, inspect the shifter linkage and shifter.
Verify whether your shifter assembly gets still intact and inspect any clips or lock pins keeping it to a frame. Check them underneath the car if you can’t see them from its top.
Understanding how your shift linkage works before attempting this is a must. The gear may not engage due to a worn-out shifter or a faulty linkage.
Step 7
Keep track of whether the car shifts into gear or moves forward slowly, with the clutch appearing to slip. If so, its clutch plate can be worn-out.
Put some blocks under the wheels’ fronts and try applying the parking brake. Set the car in high gear while keeping the clutch pedal depressed, and then gradually release it.
If your car still starts after releasing the clutch, the clutch plate is certainly worn and needs replacing.
Have your car hauled to a mechanic when you spot any transmission issues after 7 steps.
FAQs
What Is Automatic Transmission?
Automatic transmissions are standard on most modern vehicles. They allow the driver to focus on the road without having to fret about picking the right gear.
As its name suggests, this car’s automatic transmission shifts gears for you whenever you want.
How To Avoid My Car Not Moving In Any Gear?
- Before accelerating, heat up your car thoroughly. While the transmission system warms up and performs at its best, driving in first gear is preferable to keep the engine at a low speed.
- Before moving the car, swap the shifter to all modes for 5–10 seconds. Oil will flow into all hydraulic transmission channels.
- Check transmission oil regularly. Top fluid up if needed. Oil replacement is also important when metal shavings are present.
- Change the fluid every 60,000-100,000 kilometers or 37,000–62,000 miles.
The Bottom Line
You may thank some interconnected parts for keeping your car in good functioning order.
The automatic transmission, no doubt, is an integral element of any vehicle as it transfers power from the engine to the wheels, making the car move on the road.
After reading this post, we bet you can track down why and cope with the problems better if your VW golf won’t move when in gear.
Please share it with other readers as well.