How to fix car that wont go into gear. (gear shift linkage)

In this video i show you how to fix the gear shift linkage on a kia forte. but it will give you a good insight on what to do if yours is acting up. some symptoms include moving it into gear yet it stays in park i also show you what to look out for if it is stuck in gear but you can use a key to bypass it. this video will show you how to resolve it and it can be applied to most cars. if you enjoyed the video please give me a like, comment, share and subscribe. Thanks!
Tools and parts:
Tools used in most videos:
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Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of JunkyardJunkie, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. JunkyardJunkie assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. JunkyardJunkie recommends safe practices when working on vehicles and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of JunkyardJunkie, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not JunkyardJunkie.

[@PadtsPop]

Great video. You saved me money. My shifter cable kept popping out of D to N. Just needed a little lube and your vid showed me how.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Glad I was able to help! Thanks for watching!

[@ryangolhar4364]

Great video. This is exactly what my wife's car is suffering from. On top of that, her car is as dirty as this car - I thought you had my wife car!

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Thank you! Haha that’s funny. Well best of luck with it. Thanks for watching!

[@ryangolhar4364]

@@JunkyardJunkie So turns out its the other end of the cable that's connected to the transmission. Its not connected. Is that a bolt or clip or something? I'll rewatch the video to see if you show it.

[@Jnw636]

Thank you for the awesome video. 2010 Forte Koup just went out at 162k miles. Glad it’s a simple fix!

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Hey I’m glad I could help! Good luck and thanks for watching!

[@spencermilton8773]

Wanted to thank you for this video. My car wouldn't come out of drive and my HOA was complaining about me having it parked on the street. Couldn't get the car to start up. I watched this video and fixed it up just enough to move it into the garage. Now gonna fix it for $30 bucks instead of taking it into a shop!

[@JunkyardJunkie]

That’s awesome news! I always love seeing I was able to help. Best of luck! Thanks for watching!

[@mikewilliams9473]

It looks like a simple me I can work on multi million dollar jet engines, but I don't know anything about car maintenance 😂 I'm learning. Thank you very much 👍

[@JunkyardJunkie]

😂😂 we all start somewhere when learning new things. I’m glad I could help! Thanks for watching!

[@haolee1925]

Thank you for the instructions. It is very informative and helpful. Really appreciate.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Thanks. Glad it could be helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@jessewilliams1422]

Very clear instruction and almost identical to my issue. Hopefully it be similar in fix. Thank you a million times over. Rural area with no mechanic in sight.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Hey I’m glad I’m able to help. It’s not to bad of a job. Let me know how it goes! Thanks for watching!

[@jessewilliams1422]

@@JunkyardJunkie it fixed it! Small bushing in gear linkage. I can get it home if I press it on the peg, even. Man, you saved me.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

That’s awesome!

[@jessewilliams1422]

You happen to remember the link for that bushing kit?

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Here you go: BushingFix BP1Kit - Automatic Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Repair Kit, Replacement Shifter Cable Bushing, Quality Transmission Repair Kit, Compatible with Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, and Other Brands a.co/d/8z6U2DL

[@NaClPeter]

Thank you, thank you thank you so much for this video! I was able to get my daughter home by manually engaging. I am now taking it apart. Hopefully it’s just a bushing and not the entire mechanism. I will let y’all know how it turns out. But again thank you so much, really appreciate you

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Hey I’m glad I could help! Ya let me know how it goes. Usually it’s the bushing that goes out. Best of luck. Thanks for watching!

[@NaClPeter]

It is the bushing. It is completely gone. It’s ceases to exist. It is no more. Thanks again.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Well that’s good. You’re very welcome. Have a good one.

[@77Sneek]

Great details. thank you i have the same problem I'm going to go try to fix it myself.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Thanks! I know you can do it good luck!

[@DavusClaymore]

Everything was pretty much the same when I worked on my friends Kia a little over a week ago. I ended up using a hairpin style clip instead instead of the proper bushing due to needing to get it on the road as soon as possible. And yes, you can shift it into gear using the mechanism on top of the transmission to get it home or to the shop. It sucks that they use plastic that becomes brittle quickly (the shift mechanism itself seemed to be brittle) instead of steel!

[@JunkyardJunkie]

I’m glad I was able to help. Good ingenuity you got to do what you got to do sometimes. I agree they shouldn’t have made it plastic, it’s just more cutting costs at the expensive of a poor product. Thanks for watching!

[@katherineerskine9631]

Thank you, my Kia Soul is having almost the identical issue. thx

[@JunkyardJunkie]

I’m glad it could help. Goodluck. Thanks for watching!

[@davidwilliamson6583]

GREAT VIDEO...THANKS MAN.......HAVE 2 TRUCKS NISSAN FRONTIERS SAME YEAR ETC..-----------------------------------THIS CAN ALSO CAUSE YOUR CAR TO NOT START.WHEN YOU PUT KEY IN THE IGNITION-------1 TRUCK,...BATTERY FINE, ALTERNATOR FINE. STARTER FINE..PUT KEY IN...ENGINE WON'T TURN OVER...HAD TO GET TOWED-REPLACING WHOLE DEAL $462......OTHER TRUCK...PUT KEY IN IGNITION...NO START ------PUSH ON THE SHIFTER FORWARD TOWARDS DASH WHILE IN PARK------------CAR STARTED...WILL GET THIS FIXED ALSO

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Thanks for the input. Glad you got yours working. Thanks for watching!

[@CadillacG-uv2ev]

Awesome video. Thanks for posting👍🏾

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Glad I could help! Thanks for watching!

[@miiavillagomez7150]

This happened just to my car today and I was available to fix it sort of ! Now all I need to do is maybe open it and go in

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Well I’m glad I was able to help! You got this! Thanks for watching!

[@YakeveIi]

Earned a new sub big dawg💚 keep spreading the knowledge💪🏽

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Thanks bro! Always glad to have new people. Thanks for watching!

[@TauqeerBukhtiar]

Very nice and detailed video. ALLAH bless you.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Glad I could help. Thanks for watching!

[@MiLa-ey7ws]

Thanks for the video. Outside chance here: I drove through some flood water (less than a foot would be my guess in a 2012 sportage) yesterday after the hurricane in Florida. My drive went smooth. Parked at the house, came back and the sportage goes from park to reverse to neutral, but when I go to drive it stays in neutral and indicates on the dash it’s in neutral. My two thoughts are that it could be the linkage at the start of the video or a sensor that’s been tweaked. Not entirely on topic with your video, but hopefully looking for a target area to dig in and throwing it out. Thanks for any insight.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Hey you’re welcome! First hope you’re ok and it wasn’t to bad on your stuff. So I hope the water didn’t hurt any of the sensors because it can become a pain. Where I would start personally is to change gears at the transmission like I did in this video. Have the parking brake on and someone you trust to hold the brake as well (take as many safety precautions as possible). See if you manually shift it to drive if it registers it’s in drive. If it does then it’s your linkage somewhere. Let me know how it goes. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@MiLa-ey7ws]

Thanks for the reply. So I figured I would try easier things first, and disconnected the battery and reseated the fuses, but no luck. Took the air box off, and had someone with me. Realized when I toggled them linkage and pushed closer to the cabin it showed it went in gear. Ended up tightening the cable at the linkage and was able to drive it today without any issues. Thank you for posting your videos. Are you allowed to post a Venmo? Serious question :)

[@JunkyardJunkie]

That’s great news! I always love being able to help so I’m glad yours is back working now. as for Venmo I think we’re aloud to do that.

[@jamescc367]

Awesome video Do you have the official name or part number of the bushing by chance?

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Thank you! It’s BP1kit, here’s a link: BushingFix BP1Kit - Automatic Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Repair Kit, Replacement Shifter Cable Bushing, Quality Transmission Repair Kit, Compatible with Nissan, Toyota, Hyundai, and Other Brands a.co/d/iHclo4w Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@kendrickturman2123]

Hey boss man if the car won’t go into drive could this be the same problem

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Yes this could be the whole issue. But I would check at the transmission to verify like I showed in the video. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@serajsalem5483]

Thanks for the video i have the same car, 💥💥but i am facing the first problem 10:20💥💥, gear shift not able to go park i have tried to release the screw and but it back again and nothing changes, please reply ASAP 😢

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Ok so if you manually move the thing I show you you are able to shift gears correct? Has it came loose where I showed you? If not with key on press brake like I do you should see it pull it down just like in the video if not that may need to be replaced. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@siriusbit]

does it have to be in neutral during the process?

[@JunkyardJunkie]

No you just have to move it there to remove the center console. But you could switch it back to park. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@afkaustin]

The lever under the hood goes P->R->N->D.. but there’s 2 more notches it can go after what would be Drive. The car still shows in drive at those notches, but is it the same as the first Drive position? Thanks. (2010 Kia Forte)

[@JunkyardJunkie]

It should be P>R>N>D then the last two should be 2nd gear> first gear. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching

[@DavusClaymore]

Probably the so-called manual shift, (it just lets you manually shift an automatic transmission up or down a gear.)

[@megg7558]

Very detailed, thank you. Do you think this can be done on a 2013 kia soul manual transmission?

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Hey thanks! So manual transmissions are different. Unfortunately if it won’t go into gear with a manual it could be your master cylinder, slave cylinder or throw out bearing. I hope this helps! Thanks for watching.

[@Alisha-qg3qe]

I took apart the entire center console, and got to the part with the pin, bushing, and cable. Its completely connected, and is pulling and moving when i move the shifter (which is moving freely). We are stuck in park. I am going to try the suggestion you showed from under the hood of at least getting it into neutral. But Im wondering if theres a bushing failur under the car by the transmission. toyota matrix 09. What are your thoughts? A bit loose when shifting for a while now, easily bumping into different gears while driving if I go to touch the radio.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Ok so first I’d start by finding it on the transmission. Then have someone go through the gears see if it’s actually trying to shift. Most likely you will have to replace the whole cable it’s a little bit more of a pain but defiantly doable. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@Alisha-qg3qe]

@@JunkyardJunkie thanks, i had my mom move the shifter, i could hear something moving all around. The very end of the linkage cable, this one, has a bolt that has a cotter pin on one side, and then a threaded end on the other that goes through that rusty bracket/moving piece, and a nut secures it on. After 2 days of searching, i found a linkage cable with that bolt. You can only get the bolt by buying the entire linkage cable. So hopefully, this helps someone with the same problem. Our bolt spit off where the threads meet the head of it. The threaded end is still in the bracket and secured by the nut. Its all rusted bad, so were going to spray some pb blaster for a few days to get the nut off. Looks like i also have to take the battery and its holster off to access this area easier. But i appreciate your video because i wouldnt have been able to find the issue without it. Even though mine is a different type.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

I’m glad you got it figured out. Thanks for letting others know.

[@angeldelgado3609]

I just bought a Kia Cerato Koup and I saw that it has the same gear console, I want to change the lever and add a standard type cover, has anyone done something similar? I can only find for 2011-2013 models that the lever has a button

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Best to check groups for your make. A lot of people mod just about everything out there. It’s just a matter of how much work and effort it takes to figure it out. Best of luck. Thanks for watching!

[@rashidruziboy7600]

I have same situation with my kia picanto 2015 ,but mine is showing N . Is this same siproblem ?

[@JunkyardJunkie]

It’s possible. You should check the actual shifter on the transmission see if it’s moving with the gear shift. Hope this helps. Best of luck. Thanks for watching!

[@rashidruziboy7600]

@@JunkyardJunkie thanks a lot !

[@hectorsamuelmorenosarabia5892]

Que tengo que aser si se estropeó el cilindro que libera el seguro de la palanca..se repara o se reemplaza??

[@JunkyardJunkie]

en ese momento lo reemplazaría. Espero que eso ayude. ¡gracias por ver!

[@steveyoung6702]

What about a 2012 kia forte? The shifter won't come out of park and it's different than the one in this video. I don't see that little rod anywhere. I can't find any videos showing how to fix the problem on a 2012.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

The 2012 I believe has the shift lock release in front of the gear shifter. It should even say that on there. Take the cover off and stick your key in and you should be able to take it out of park. As for the linkage I’m not sure I haven’t worked on that ones linkage. But you should be able to find it and where it goes (it does have linkage cable. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@kurb5671]

What's bad is my car actually reads the right gear when I move the shifter but the linkage doesn't move on the transmission

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Sorry to hear that sounds like you’ll have to replace the whole line. Good luck. Thanks for watching!

[@sierrashields-eg5di]

Does this work for a 2011 Chevy Cruze? I just bought it two days ago. And now the shifter moves but doesn’t leave park.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Yes, same principals apply for that as well. Best of luck! Thanks for watching!

[@chaoticsensibility8475]

So what would cause the shift linkage to go bad in most cars?

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Honestly it’s usually something like this where they cheap out and use a part that’s bound to fail. Thanks for watching!

[@DavusClaymore]

@ around 14:30 there was no decent bushing replacement available. There was enough of nib on that crap plastic piece that the bushing is supposed to fit around. I'd thought of all kinds of spacers and fillers to fit to make a bushing! I ended up just using an E-Clip type of cotter pin! There's enough of a nub to fit one on to the crap plastic nub that the bushing is supposed to fit around! What an absolute crap and cheap design. It was built in 2012 and already I can see the other parts of the interior shift linkage disintegrating. Definitely built to end up in the junkyard, not built to last or have any reusable parts!

[@JunkyardJunkie]

I hate to hear that. Ya many manufactures don’t care, they just want to make it as cheap as possible. Which in turns screws us. Hopefully the fix holds up for a long time. Good luck. Thanks for watching!

[@christianterrones4900]

What is the problem when I put it from park to drive and the car doesn't move ,it only makes a revving sound,it happened a couple of times lately,I shut off the car and start it ,then I moved the knob with more strenght ,then the car moved normally.

[@JunkyardJunkie]

On your dash when it happens does it show that you’re in neutral or in drive? If it shows in drive you may have a transmission problem if it’s showing neutral then you may have a adjustment on your cable you need to adjust. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@christianterrones4900]

@@JunkyardJunkie thank you!

[@christianterrones4900]

There is an indicator on the dashboard, it says MPG ,sometimes when driving it goes all the way to the plus sign ,I thought when the car is working properly the needle will stay in the middle,is this indicating that something is not working as it should? Subaru Impreza 2016 auto trans.

[@InjectMusic]

This was my issue and now I can shift gears but my key doesn’t come out of the ignition until I disconnect the battery, what could be the issue?

[@JunkyardJunkie]

When you shift gears is it registering each gear correctly?

[@InjectMusic]

@@JunkyardJunkie I figured out what it was, the pin that sends the signal to the car saying it’s in park was bent so I straightened it out and it’s all good now! Thank you for this amazing video and quick response!!

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Awesome! I’m glad you fixed it. Thanks for watching!

[@Isaac-zz3nn]

Pls how long does it take to fix

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Should only take you a hour or so. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@pierrebrisco9807]

I have a 2015 Malibu, when I turn my car on I can’t shift to any gear. Have to turn the car on and off a few times. For the gears to pop back up the dash. No one can tell me the problem

[@JunkyardJunkie]

So, I would be willing to bet or at least a good starting point for these cars is to remove the center trim that covers the area (the piece that covers your gear shifter and cup holders). pop it up then go to the passenger side of the car raise it up so you can see the side of the shifter. You can actually see that there is a yellow piece that the gear lever will move it to different spots depending where you are. First I would check it in park to make sure it’s making good contact with that little piece that tells its in park. I’ve barely bent them down a tad before and had them work. As always be carful when doing it. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching!

[@supahwilliams359]

Where can I get a bushing kit

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Here you go. Bushing Fix BP1Kit - Transmission Shift Cable Bushing Repair Kit www.amazon.com/dp/B06XWDQCR4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_CPMBP1C5S57ZH03G7HCV Hope this helps! Thanks for watching!

[@juliangalvan239]

i have a 2012 jetta gli, when i put it in reverse or drive it don’t move and the tcm and ecm popped up on the scanner. what could it be?

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Honestly it’s probably the bushing just like on this car. As for the tcm and ecm popping codes where they related codes?

[@jacquelinegrandberryfugate4472]

Can you come fix mine😢

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Haha I would if I could. Best of luck. Thanks for watching!

[@nxva_snipes9956]

FIRST

[@JunkyardJunkie]

Thanks for watching!

[@haroldreyes7549]

You didn't try to take off the top area, which includes the shift bezel, that snaps into the console, from the top!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would have saved all that time and hassle!!!!!!!!!!

[@JunkyardJunkie]

For videoing and just a easy way for everyone to do it this is a good way. Thanks for watching!