Chevy Silverado Gear Shifter Not Working- Causes & Solutions

Is your Chevy Silverado gear shifter not working? Well, we know how it feels. The problem might occur because of a faulty shift interlock, breaker lights, or malfunction. 

The gear shifter of your Chevy Silverado allows your truck to be put into different gears on a manual transmission. But it gets pretty annoying when it gets stuck and doesn’t move.

However, we have got your back. Every problem has its treatment. That’s why we will show you all the probable solutions in this content to fix your problem.

But before jumping into the answers, you need to figure out the exact reasons behind them. It will make your work easier to repair the gear shifter. So, let’s move on to the main topic without further delay.

Chevy Silverado Gear Shifter Not Working

Nothing is more annoying when you rush to go somewhere, but your chevy truck, won’t go into gear. Here are some possible reasons why the gear shifter might not work in your Chevy Silverado and their solutions.

Possible Reasons	Probable Solutions
Damaged gears.	Trouble shifting.
Brake light switch failure.	Replace the brake light switch.
The safety mechanism is damaged.	Replace the shift interlock solenoid.
Low gear oil level or leakage in the fluid lines	Check if there is any leakage and repair.
Limp mode activated	Take your truck to a repair shop with a tow service.
Transmission parking pawl	Release the pawl.
Freezing weather	Warming up can ease the work.
Faulty shifter cable	Replace the shifter cable.

There are many possible reasons why a gear shifter is not functioning in your vehicle. Your work is to discover the exact reason behind your transmission issue by observing the symptoms.

So, here is what do you do when your gear shifter is stuck in details-

Fixing Damaged Gears

Sometimes, the damaged gears become one of the main reasons your 2007 chevy Silverado gear shifter is not working. There’s the synchronizer ring engaged with the hub sleeve by the smaller teeth present in each gear.

The gears get damaged when the small teeth get worn out. As a result, the gear shifter may not work. In this case, trouble shifting is the primary solution.

Brake Light Switch Failure

If you see the brake lights not working, you have found out the main culprit. It is one of the most common reasons behind the 2012 chevy Silverado gear shifter not working.

If your truck’s brake light switch becomes faulty, it can not send signals to the solenoid shift interlock. Therefore the gear shifter won’t work appropriately.

To fix this transmission issue, replacing the faulty brake switch of your truck is necessary. You can find this brake sensor in any local parts distributor shop. In this case, you will only require the price of the switch and replace it yourself.

The Safety Mechanism Is Damaged

The safety mechanism is built in a vehicle to prevent reverse driving accidents. This mechanism, known as the shift interlock system, can get damaged for many reasons.

This mechanism includes solenoid cylinders that allow the gear shifter to move easily. It receives brake pedal signals. But when it gets damaged, it stops receiving signals from the brake pedal.

 A stuck gear shifter and Trapped key in the ignition happen when the interlock is faulty. To solve this problem, diagnosing the safety mechanism and replacing it becomes necessary as soon as possible.

Low Gear Oil Or Leakage

Sometimes you might be wondering why won’t My gear shift engage. Well, it’s probably because there is not enough gear oil to lubricate the gears.

If you don’t fix this, the gear will eventually get harder to shift. You’ll hear strange noises as a symptom of lower gear oil level.

Limp Mode Activated

When the limp mode is activated, your vehicle cant read signals coming from the sensors. This mode automatically stops switching gears, and the 2011 chevy Silverado gear shifter not working or stops working.

If you notice that limp mode is activated, park your vehicle on the safe side and take it to a repair shop with tow service.

Transmission Parking Pawl

Transmission parking pawl helps not to rotate the wheel of your vehicle when the gearshift is placed while parked. This pawl is another type of safety mechanism for a car. This system’s damage can also lead to the 2007 chevy Silverado gear shifter not working.

However, to fix this problem, you need to release the pawl. Move your vehicle uphill to release the shifter and set the e-brake before putting down the car.

This Video Will Help You Too!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Final Words

Hope you have got your solution to the chevy Silverado gear shifter not working issue. Don’t force your gear shifter into action when you notice any problem because this action might lead to extra damage to your vehicle’s gear shifter.

In conclusion, you can quickly fix your gear shifter if there are no major transmission issues. So before facing an expensive repairing cost, try the fixes suggested above carefully. But if you can’t figure out the reason, it is always better to consult a mechanic.

You Can Also Read:

• GMC Acadia Pros And Cons- The Ideal SUV Review!
• How Long Can You Drive On A Bad Ball Joint?
• 2015 Silverado 6 Speed Transmission Problems: Detailed Explanations With 5 Reasons
• Driving with Bad Cam Phasers? See How to Quiet Cam Phaser Noise Easily