Even though manual cars are more challenging to learn how to drive, they have the valuable benefit of being more reliable than automatic transmissions. Despite that, if you have your car for long enough, problems will arise that you’ll have to take care of. When that day finally gets here, it’ll be good if you’re already familiar with the most common manual transmission problems. That way, you can more easily deal with them if and when they show up.
Difficulty Shifting Gears
One common problem that tends to sneak up on people is when the stick shift becomes difficult to move. Typically, the process is so gradual that users don’t really notice that it’s getting worse. Most of the time, this happens due to worn or loose parts, such as the shift cables, bearings, or the stick shift itself. If the oil level is low, this can happen as well. However, a misaligned transmission or another synchronization issue could cause more significant damage if not handled properly.
The Stick Gets Stuck in Gear
Of course, if the problem of a stubborn stick shift gets bad enough, it could permanently get stuck in gear. While this is an inevitability for the previous issue, there are also several ways that it can happen to a transmission that was working perfectly fine beforehand. Putting in the wrong type of oil could be the culprit, but it could be something as simple as a stuck shift rail. No matter the cause, this is a problem that you must fix right away.
It Won’t Go Into Gear
Unsurprisingly, a transmission can also have trouble going into gear, not just getting out of one. This problem typically originates from the shift linkage. Its adjustment might just be a little off, but a piece might be loose or damaged as well. If the sift linkage is fine, though, you’ll want to check the clutch. If it’s not fully releasing after use, it could be the cause for your car not being able to move into the next gear. A simple readjustment should be able to remedy this issue.
There’s a Sticking Clutch
Problems with a stuck clutch might be more obvious, though. There have been many cases of clutches getting stuck all the way down to the floor. If this happens to you, the issue most likely originates from either the master or slave cylinder. A leakage at the external seal will likely be the reason for the sticking, but if that’s not it, the problem could originate from elsewhere in your car.
The Clutch Slips Out of Place
However, if it’s not sticking, it’s slipping. If your engine starts revving up, but there’s no movement, that’s a telltale sign of a slipping clutch. If this happens, it’s likely due to your clutch’s petal or one of its many other parts getting worn out. By either readjusting the parts or replacing them, you will be able to handle this issue with ease.
It Jumps Into Neutral
If your manual transmission has been in use for over 100,000 miles, it’s likely nearing the end of its life. One of the most common manual transmission problems to occur at that point is having it jump out of gear and into neutral while in use. However, if your transmission isn’t that old, there could be either an external shift linkage issue.
An external one might simply have come loose or gotten misaligned, but it could have also worn itself out due to rust buildup or the binding of other exterior parts. Putting these pieces back into place should fix this issue. If it’s originating from the internal shift linkage, though, it might end up being much worse. A weak or broken spring from inside of the shift rail is likely the culprit. The reason for this is that the spring holds a ball up that locks the gear into place. If that spring isn’t doing its job, the ball will fall out of position, and the transmission will drop back into neutral.
Despite all of that, other problems such as worn-out gear teeth, loose shift covers, and misaligned clutch housings can all make a transmission drop out of gear. This can obviously be a serious problem when out on the road, so you’ll want to fix it as soon as possible if it happens to you.
Car Leaks Transmission Fluid
Just like any other fluid in your car, the transmission one could start leaking at some point. This is such an issue because this liquid is key for running your transmission properly. It lubricates parts, prevents oxidation and rust, and helps keep the system cool while operating. If all the fluid has leaked out, your transmission will start having problems all over. This liquid is basically the connective glue that holds the whole machine together.
That’s why you should check it as often as you check your engine’s oil. If you ever notice that it’s low, check for worn-out gaskets or loose bolts in the area that you believe it might be leaking from.
The Transmission Cooler Broke
It should be obvious, but the transmission fluid doesn’t simply remain cool at all times. It has to run through a cooler in order for that to be possible. However, if that machine stops functioning correctly, your transmission will start unnecessarily heating up. You don’t want that, so if yours breaks, we’ve got a whole selection of transmission coolers for sale. Just pick out the one that fits best for your car, and your transmission will run like new again.
How To Keep These Problems From Happening
Even though we said that transmission problems are much less common for manuals than automatics, we did list off quite a few things that could potentially go wrong with them. However, as long as you take good care of your vehicle, most of these will never happen, or you’ll catch them before they get too bad.
You don’t even have to be a car nut to diagnose common car problems. If you hear a grinding noise or feel some resistance when shifting, you should play it safe and take your car in right away. It’s better to know that it’s nothing than to leave it alone and have it turn into a much more expensive problem down the road.
