Pontiac Sunbird Not able to change gears Inspection at your home or office.

Our certified mobile mechanics come to you 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(5)

How A Diagnostic Works

Instantly book a certified mobile mechanic to come to you

Mechanic diagnoses the problem and quotes necessary repairs

Your vehicle is ready to go

Fair, upfront & transparent pricing for all services

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to you now.

Customer Ratings

(5)

Not able to change gears Inspection Service

How much does a Not able to change gears Inspection cost?

On average, the cost for a Pontiac Sunbird Not able to change gears Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
1993 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.0LService typeNot able to change gears InspectionEstimate$114.99Shop/Dealer Price$124.99 - $132.49
1979 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.5LService typeNot able to change gears InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1988 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.0L TurboService typeNot able to change gears InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1986 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.0LService typeNot able to change gears InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$104.99 - $112.48
1977 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.5LService typeNot able to change gears InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.02 - $112.55
1988 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.0LService typeNot able to change gears InspectionEstimate$94.99Shop/Dealer Price$105.01 - $112.52
1990 Pontiac SunbirdL4-2.0LService typeNot able to change gears InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$109.87 - $117.28
1986 Pontiac SunbirdL4-1.8L TurboService typeNot able to change gears InspectionEstimate$99.99Shop/Dealer Price$110.24 - $117.94
Show example Pontiac Sunbird Not able to change gears Inspection prices

Whether you have a manual transmission or an automatic, it must change gears when you drive. If your transmission is stuck in gear, or won’t come out of park, then there’s definitely a problem. The actual cause will vary depending on other symptoms and information – whether it’s stuck in park, whether you’re driving an automatic or a manual, and more.

How this system works:

Both manual and automatic transmissions are complex and require a significant number of components in order to operate. Of course, automatics are the more complicated of the two systems. However, your problem might have nothing to do with the transmission at all. For instance, if you can’t shift out of park with an automatic transmission, chances are good that the problem lies elsewhere, perhaps with the brake light switch attached to the brake pedal.

In a manual transmission, changing gears requires a working clutch pedal, clutch and other components. You press the clutch pedal, which engages the clutch and stops the transmission from spinning with the engine. This allows you to shift gears. Sequencers allow you to shift smoothly into each gear.

Additionally, there’s the question of your master cylinder if you have a hydraulic clutch (some cars have a clutch cable, but some are hydraulic and will have a fluid-filled master cylinder and slave cylinder that must be in operation in order to shift gears, or the car will act like the clutch pedal isn’t pressed).

In an automatic, the transmission does all the work for you. All you have to do is press the accelerator, and the transmission will shift on its own as your speed increases. This requires a number of components not found on a manual transmission.

Common reasons for this to happen:

  • *Low Fluid in Transmission - Both manual and automatic transmissions require fluid (different types) in order to operate. If the fluid is low, there’s a chance that you won’t be able to change gears, particularly in an automatic transmission. This also causes immense damage to the transmission itself. However, it’s more likely that you would be able to shift, but the transmission would not move the car.

  • Low Fluid in Master Cylinder: If you’re driving a stick shift and it has a hydraulic clutch, one of the first suspects is low fluid in the clutch master cylinder. This is generally caused by a leak in the system (you may notice fluid on your clutch pedal).

  • Broken Clutch Cable: If you have a cable-operated clutch, it’s possible that the cable has broken. If the pedal goes to the floor without engaging the clutch, this would the one of the primary possibilities.

  • Failed Brake Light Switch: If you’re unable to shift out of park with an automatic transmission, the most likely culprit is the brake light switch. It’s mounted to the brake pedal and designed to engage the shift lock solenoid if it detects that your brake lights aren’t working.

  • Bad Sequencers: If you’re able to shift out of a gear, but when you attempt to shift into the next sequential gear, you hear a grinding sound, chances are good that the sequencers are failing or have failed. You should be able to shift to the next highest gear without trouble if this is the problem.

What to expect:

One of our professional mechanics will visit your home or office in order to inspect the transmission and verify the problem. The mechanic will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.

How it's done:

The mechanic will verify that the car’s transmission will not shift. This may require a test drive (if the transmission will not shift while moving). The mechanic may also need to pull diagnostic codes from the car’s computer via the OBD II connection under your dash.

How important is this service?

f your car will not change gears, there’s a significant problem and you should not attempt to drive the vehicle. Regular maintenance can help prevent issues like this, including master cylinder inspections, fluid changes and more. One of our mechanics can inspect the system and determine the actual underlying cause of the issue, and then repair your car to get you back on the road.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Pontiac mechanics

Real customer reviews from Pontiac owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(5)

Rating Summary
5
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0

Joshua

27 years of experience
709 reviews
Joshua
27 years of experience
Pontiac Sunbird L4-2.0L - Ignition key does not turn - Oakland, California
Joshua was great. He arrived early which was a plus. He quickly resolved the problem and ordered the parts. I would recommend him to everyone. As a matter of fact while he was there attending my Mom's car, I had him to look at my car as well. He was wonderful and very professional.

Paul

10 years of experience
38 reviews
Paul
10 years of experience
Pontiac Sunbird L4-2.0L - Ignition Lock Assembly - Austin, Texas

John

6 years of experience
35 reviews
John
6 years of experience
Pontiac Sunbird V6-3.8L - Car does not move when I step on the gas pedal Inspection - Renton, Washington
John was super awesome and honest. He showed and explained why I needed certain things and was very helpful in making a well informed decision. Highly reccomend him.

Michael

40 years of experience
131 reviews
Michael
40 years of experience
Pontiac Sunbird L4-2.0L - Car is overheating - Columbus, Ohio
Michael was very professional, kind, courteous, attentive. He listened to what I had to say and helped to find the solution to the problem. Thank you, Mike, for everything you did to get me back on the road. 

Excellent Rating

(5)

Rating Summary
5
0
0
0
0
5
0
0
0
0
Number of Pontiac Sunbird services completed
55+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Pontiac MECHANICS
800+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

Top 10 Scenic Drives in Tennessee
While Tennessee is known for its mountains, forests, and music history, these things are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg for what this region has to offer. Of course, visitors will continue to flock with good reason to Beale...
P2337 OBD-II Trouble Code: Cylinder #2 Above Knock Threshold
P2337 P2337 code definition The P2337 trouble code signals a problem with the #2 cylinder being above the knock threshold. What the P2337 code means The P2337 code is a standard OBD-II trouble code that deals with the #2 cylinder...
How to Replace an Evaporative Emission Control Canister
Emissions are regulated by the EVAP emission control canister which fails when the fuel tank gauge does not work or you fail an emissions test.

How do I use Weight-Distributing hitches to tow things?

Your truck was built for towing. It is important to use the proper hitch. A Weight Distributing hitch will distribute the weight to where 10-15% of the weight is on the tongue. To use a Weight Distributing hitch. Park the...

Battery dead after a few days

Thanks for writing in about your Mercedes Benz CLK430. This is a common problem as vehicles get older. This type of fault is called a parasitic draw and occurs when one or more component does not shut off when the...

Çv boot torn

Hi There, Unfortunately, there is no way to tell exactly how far your car will make it with a torn CV joint boot. Depending on how long this has been torn and how much damage has already occurred, this may...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com