Symptoms of a bad or faulty shift selector cable

Common symptoms include a gear mismatch indicator and the vehicle won't turn off, pull away in a different gear, or not shift into gear at all.

The shift selector cable shifts the transmission into the correct gear, which is indicated by the shift selector by the driver. Cars with an automatic transmission usually have one cable from the gearbox to the shifter, while cars with a manual transmission usually have two. They both have the same symptoms when they start to go bad. If you suspect that your computer is malfunctioning, look out for the following symptoms.

1. The indicator does not match the gear

If the shift cable fails, the indicator light or cable will not match the gear you are in. For example, when you change from park mode to drive mode, it might say that you are in park mode. This means that the cable has stretched to a point where it does not move to the right place, and an incorrect gear is noted. The cable can stretch over time, so it needs to be replaced throughout the life of your vehicle. In this case, have a professional mechanic replace the shift cable.

2. The car does not turn off

Because the gear selector cable is stretched, you will not be able to remove the key from the ignition or turn off the vehicle. This is because on some vehicles the key cannot be turned unless the vehicle is in park. When this happens it can be dangerous as you may not know what gear you are in when you try to turn off the car. This can make your vehicle unpredictable and dangerous to you and those around you and should be addressed as soon as possible.

3. The car starts in a different gear

If your car starts in any other gear than park or neutral, there is a problem. It could be a shift lock solenoid or a shift cable. A mechanic should diagnose this problem to differentiate between the two as they may have similar symptoms. Also, there may be problems with both parts, so they need to be replaced before your car can function properly again.

4. The car does not include gear

After you start the car and try to shift it into gear, if the gear selector does not move, then there is a problem with the gear selector cable. The cable may be broken or stretched beyond repair. This prevents the transmission of the lever needed to shift gears. Until this issue is resolved, the vehicle will not be usable.

As soon as you notice that the indicator does not match the gear, the car does not stall, starts in a different gear, or does not turn on at all, call a mechanic to further inspect the problem. Qualified technical specialists of AvtoTachki are also ready to answer any questions you may have. They make shift cable replacement easy because their mobile mechanics come to your home or office and fix your vehicle.