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Original poster

Why wouldn’t my car go into gear after I stalled?

39 replies

ifiwander · 02/08/2023 15:43

Just stalled (stupidly) on a minor roundabout nearby, one I’m familiar with. Not sure why I stalled but it happens I guess. Auto stop start turned the engine back on so I put it back into gear and somehow stalled again…. so when I went to put it into gear the third time, the gearstick would not go all the way into gear. I literally couldn’t get it into first, or even second or third. Turned engine off and on and tried again, still refusing. At this point I’m blocking the left lane at this roundabout unable to move my car. Somehow after trying and trying - feeling flustered all the while - it finally took to first gear and I was off. I then drove it the 1 mile home from there, as normal.

I’m a bit concerned about how this could happen and worried about taking it out tomorrow in case it does this somewhere major like a large junction or dual carriageway.

Car issue or user error because I was panicking? I don’t recall the details too much as I was so focused on trying to move my car so it wasn’t an obstruction.

I don’t think I’ve stalled in years, but I stalled twice this morning whilst pulling off our drive as well :S

OP posts:
mylittleyumyum · 02/08/2023 15:48

I'd take it in and have your gearbox looked at. Has it been serviced regularly? Transmission fluid might be low though this should be checked at every service.

INeedAnotherName · 02/08/2023 15:52

Your gear wheels(?) werent properly aligned (think of them like cog wheels).

My car isn't a stop start one but usually if this happens, take car out of gear, depress fully and release clutch, select first gear. This helps to realign them.

Dbank · 02/08/2023 15:59

I would risk a drive round the block and run through the gears, if all sounds good it probably is.

If you still have occasional selection issues, it could be a sign of a worn or badly adjusted clutch, in which case a visit to the garage would be advised.

P.S. Manual gearboxes use gearbox oil, automatics use transmission fluid.

Original poster
ifiwander · 02/08/2023 16:03

mylittleyumyum · 02/08/2023 15:48

I'd take it in and have your gearbox looked at. Has it been serviced regularly? Transmission fluid might be low though this should be checked at every service.

Last service was a full service with no issues, this was 10 months ago only driven 5000 miles since.

OP posts:
Willmafrockfit · 02/08/2023 16:04

did you have your clutch pedal down fully?

user1497787065 · 02/08/2023 16:06

This isn’t meant to wind patronising but did you have the clutch in?

I only say that as I’ve driven automatics for years and did exactly this in a manual recently.

Sunshineclouds11 · 02/08/2023 16:06

This happens to me sometimes, I have to take my foot fully off the clutch and start again as new.
The panic though makes things worse

Original poster
ifiwander · 02/08/2023 16:09

user1497787065 · 02/08/2023 16:06

This isn’t meant to wind patronising but did you have the clutch in?

I only say that as I’ve driven automatics for years and did exactly this in a manual recently.

@Willmafrockfit couldnt say fully if I did you know. I think I did. I also stalled twice this morning on our cul de sac which is odd as I’ve not stalled in years and then four times in one day!

OP posts:
maisiemoolou · 02/08/2023 16:09

I have a van for my business and my van has been doing this. Two mechanics have looked at it and both have said it needs a new clutch, so it's booked in for a new one.

SoCentralRain · 02/08/2023 16:27

Sunshineclouds11 · 02/08/2023 16:06

This happens to me sometimes, I have to take my foot fully off the clutch and start again as new.
The panic though makes things worse

Yes yes. Take your foot fully off the clutch and press down again.
It's because you were panicking.

Original poster
ifiwander · 02/08/2023 16:34

Just been back into car. Biting point is suddenly extremely low and clutch feels looser - that’s why I will have been stalling it. Any ideas?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 02/08/2023 16:43

ifiwander · 02/08/2023 16:34

Just been back into car. Biting point is suddenly extremely low and clutch feels looser - that’s why I will have been stalling it. Any ideas?

Check the fluid levels. I had this with mine and the levels were inexplicably low. Topped it up and this solved it.

Mumteedum · 02/08/2023 16:51

Get your clutch looked at. We had an old mini which leaked out all the clutch fluid once and I had to spin it round a roundabout and through a junction without being able to change gear ...so stressful 🙈

Original poster
ifiwander · 02/08/2023 16:56

SoupDragon · 02/08/2023 16:43

Check the fluid levels. I had this with mine and the levels were inexplicably low. Topped it up and this solved it.

Show quote history

Sorry if this sounds dim but levels of what fluid?

OP posts:
Original poster
ifiwander · 02/08/2023 16:56

Mumteedum · 02/08/2023 16:51

Get your clutch looked at. We had an old mini which leaked out all the clutch fluid once and I had to spin it round a roundabout and through a junction without being able to change gear ...so stressful 🙈

Yikes!!! That sounds terrifying

OP posts:
Mumteedum · 02/08/2023 17:00

ifiwander · 02/08/2023 16:56

Yikes!!! That sounds terrifying

Show quote history

Yeah I'd only just passed my test too... I nearly killed my husband... he'd been tinkering with it. He used to keep 'improving' it. He's improved it so much now that it's in several pieces (and he is now my ex husband 😆)

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 02/08/2023 17:08

You need a mechanic to look at it, could just be a clutch cable that needs tightening, could be a new clutch is needed or something in between.

EBearhug · 02/08/2023 17:15

The gear linkage went on mine, which apparently is fairly common with that model. Although the symptom there was the gear stick got very, very loose.

Either way, I'd probably book it in to be checked.

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 02/08/2023 17:19

ifiwander · 02/08/2023 16:34

Just been back into car. Biting point is suddenly extremely low and clutch feels looser - that’s why I will have been stalling it. Any ideas?

You need to take it to a garage (or get a mechanic out) - and don't drive it until then.

Mumteedum · 02/08/2023 17:47

Oh yeah @EBearhug I had linkages go on another car. It was opposite. Went v stiff to get in gear and also got stuck in a roundabout with a. Queue behind me! Yep, basically go to a garage!

cocksstrideintheevening · 02/08/2023 17:50

When I had an old stick shift I had to fully depress the clutch and wiggle the gear stick around a bit to disengage it and then I could go again.

Original poster
ifiwander · 02/08/2023 18:08

Also if relevant, it was squeaky for the last week or so and felt spongy and that all stopped today now the bite has dropped lower

OP posts:
Mumteedum · 02/08/2023 18:23

Garage! 😉

hattie43 · 02/08/2023 18:30

My car is stop / start and many a time it's stalled . It's a total pain .