Manual transmission trucks like a Chevy Silverado let you use the gear of your choice. But the gear shifter also has the problem of getting stuck. Sometimes, you can’t even move the truck out of the parking lot.
Sp, what are the reasons behind the Chevy Silverado gear shifter not working? And how do you fix them?
The gear shifter in Chevy Silverado might not work if
- You have a faulty or damaged gear system
- The brake light switch fails to send the signal
- You have a defective or damaged safety mechanism
- The gear oil level is low
- There is a fluid line leakage
- Or the shifter cable is damaged.
In most cases, you either need to fix the faulty part or replace it with a new one. I will explain everything from my experience with Chevy Silverados for a long time. Let’s get started.
Why Is My Chevy Silverado Gear Shifter Not Working?
When there is something wrong with the gear shifter, driving a Chevy Silverado feels like going over rumble strips. I figured out a few causes behind this problem and their solutions. With some simple tools and a bit of knowledge about the system, you can repair these issues to keep your truck up and running.
1. A Faulty Gear System
As you might already know, the gear system of a Chevy Silverado is made of gears with different teeth sizes. When you drive a truck for a long time, the wear in the teeth causes them to shrink. As a result, these teeth can’t come in contact with other gears, nor can they rotate them. This might be one of the main causes behind a faulty gear shifter in your Chevy truck.
Solution
If the amount of wear on gear cogs is low, it may be solved by an expert mechanic. But the gearbox is tough to disassemble and reassemble. So, you might need to replace the gearbox to make your truck work again.
2. The Brake Light Switch Fails to Send the Signal
The brake light should come on when you engage the brake in your Chevy Silverado truck. If the light doesn’t come on, it means the light switch is faulty and can’t send a signal back to the shift interlock. As a result, you might feel rumbling while shifting the gear, or the shifter might not move at all.
Solution
If this is the issue with your truck, you need to get a new brake light switch and replace the old one. You can check this brake light switch out. Replacing the switch is pretty easy. But if you can’t do it yourself, contact your local mechanic.
3. The Safety Mechanism Isn’t Working Properly
Chevy trucks use a safety mechanism to prevent the gear shifter from unintentionally putting into reverse. The gear can only be shifted when you press the brake pedal. But if solenoid cylinders in the system don’t receive any signal due to damage, the gear shifter won’t move for safety reasons.
Solution
You should replace the whole safety mechanism to fix this issue. If it seems too difficult, you need to tow the truck to the nearest repair shop.
4. The Gear Oil Level Is Low
I have seen this cause in many trucks. When owners don’t care about the gear oil level, it becomes difficult for gear parts to work properly. Everything needs to be lubricated to function smoothly. If the gear oil level is lower than usual or the reservoir is empty, you will face a tough time shifting gears.
Solution
Refilling the gear oil reservoir with fresh gear oil is necessary to fix this issue. It should be a pretty quick fix.
5. There Is a Fluid Line Leakage
This issue is related to the previous one. In some cases, gear oil can leak through leakages, so the oil level will drop out of the blue. Until you find the leakage, the reservoir might be empty, and the shifter will stop working.
Solution
An expert mechanic might fix the leakage, or you need to replace the whole fluid line. You can also check the Chevy Silverado brake line fitting size.
6. A Faulty Shifter Cable
If the shifter cable is damaged, the gear shifter won’t move. It is one of the common reasons behind this issue on Chevy Silverado.
Solution
You need to replace the shifter cable. This shifter cable can be a good choice.
FAQs
If you still have some questions about a faulty gear shifter, it is time to get their answers.
Shifting to the first or second gear won’t be possible when the shifter cable is broken. And the gear lever might not go to neutral normally.
This tiny pin is a part of the safety mechanism which prevents gears from shifting and wheels from turning when the truck is parked.
You might see warning lights or face difficulties while starting the truck or shifting gears. There might be no response from the accelerator or brake pedals.
Disconnect the battery and wait for at least thirty minutes. Then you can reconnect the battery and start the truck.
Conclusion
Getting stuck in a Chevy truck can be a nightmare, especially when the fault is with the gear shifter. Minor wear in the gear system can immobilize the shifter and cause your vehicle to get stuck.
I mentioned common probable causes behind this issue and their fixes to solve the problem. You should carefully diagnose the symptoms to determine the reason behind the faulty gear shifter. If your Chevy Silverado gear shifter not working, these fixes might come in handy.
