Fiat 500 Not Going Into Gear—What Could Be Wrong?

If your Fiat 500 isn't going to gear, then you might be put in a tough situation. Not only will you not be making it to your destination in a timely fashion but not going into gear could also leave you stranded. So what could be causing this issue? We have taken the time to answer this question in this article on your behalf!

If your Fiat 500 isn't going into gear, it could be due to the following:

  • Low Transmission Fluid
  • Faulty Transmission Solenoid
  • Faulty Clutch Master Cylinder (Manual Transmission)
  • A Broken Gear Linkage
  • A Bad Connection in Your Transmission Wiring Harness
  • A Faulty Transmission Control Module
  • Worn Slave Cylinder (Manual Transmission)
  • Faulty Clutch Plate and/or Release Bearings
  • Corroded Lines (Manual Transmission)

As you can see, cars are complicated, and there could be several reasons why your Fiat 500 isn't going into gear. However, when pinpointed the exact cause, it is essential to understand what each of these parts does and why they are essential to shifting gears. That's why in this article, we will discuss each of them and hopefully help you determine the issue with your Fiat 500 in particular!

A shiny black Fiat 500 abarth parked in the streets, Fiat 500 Not Going Into Gear—What Could Be Wrong?

Fiat 500 Not Going Into Gear—What Could Be Wrong?

The Fiat 500 may be a small car with small parts, but that doesn't mean it can't have big problems. For example, if it's not going into gear, you will have trouble getting anywhere.

To help out, let's take a look at each of the common reasons as to why the Fiat 500 isn't shifting into gear:

Electric car Fiat 500e Cabrio on a street

Low Transmission Fluid

If your Fiat 500's engine is running hot because you have been driving too long without filling the car with enough transmission fluid, it could be inhibiting your car from going into gear.

This is because the transmission fluid helps keep all the working components in the transmission lubricated and cool. If these pieces are not properly cooled down due to a lack of transmission fluid, your car will go into a limp mode to protect the working components from further damage.

While this mode helps prevent damage to these parts, it can inhibit you from going into gear as well. To fix this issue, all you would need to do is check how much fluid your Fiat 500 requires and fill it up to the appropriate level.

Faulty Transmission Solenoid

Old transmission solenoid of an old car

A faulty transmission solenoid is another common cause of a Fiat 500 not going into gear. This part is responsible for helping you go into and out of gears by controlling the oil pressure in your transmission. If this part malfunctions, it may be inhibiting you from using your gears. 

Faulty Clutch Master Cylinder (Manual Transmission)

If you have a manual transmission, the clutch master cylinder may be faulty. This part's job is to provide the correct amount of pressure to engage and disengage your clutch, which helps you change gears.

If this part malfunctions, it can cause low or no pressure to be sent through your gearbox, which means you will not be able to change gears. 

A Broken Gear Linkage

It is also possible that a part of your transmission's linkage may have become broken, which inhibits you from going into gear. This could be caused due to an accident or simply because of age and wear and tear. 

A Bad Connection in Your Transmission Wiring Harness

Another possibility is that the wiring harness for your Fiat 500's transmission may be damaged or corroded, which can inhibit it from sending electricity to certain parts of your transmission.

If you have this problem, it can inhibit you from going into certain gears or even cause your car to stall out while driving. To fix this issue, all you would need to do is completely replace your Fiat 500's transmission wiring harness.

A Faulty Transmission Control Module

If none of the previous components work properly, it could mean that your Fiat 500's transmission control module may have malfunctioned.

The job of the transmission control module is to interpret data to decide which gear you are in or if it should downshift or upshift. If this part malfunctions, it can cause you to incorrectly shift gears, not shift at all, or even have your vehicle stall out while driving.

Worn Slave Cylinder (Manual Transmission)

A slave cylinder on a white background

If you have a manual transmission, the clutch slave cylinder may be faulty. This part's job is to provide the correct amount of pressure to engage and disengage your clutch, which helps you change gears.

If this part malfunctions, it can cause low or no pressure to be sent through your gearbox, which means you will not be able to change gears.

Faulty Clutch Plate and/or Release Bearings

It is also possible that the clutch plate and release bearings inside your Fiat 500 may be faulty, which can inhibit you from going into gear.

The job of the release bearings and the clutch plate is to transfer pressure from you pushing down on your clutch pedal to disengaging your clutch, which helps you change gears. If the release bearings and/or clutch plate malfunctions, it can result in issues such as your car not going into gear.

Corroded Lines (Manual Transmission)

It is also possible that the lines along your Fiat 500's manual transmission may have become corroded.

The job of these lines is to deliver clean, pressurized fluid from the transmission to other parts in your gearbox. If they are not performing this task correctly, it can cause you to lose pressure when shifting gears or even result in you not being able to shift at all.

What Do you Do When your Car Doesn't Go into Gear? 

If your car isn't going into gear, it is essential to check a few things before contacting a mechanic.

The first thing you should do is check your gear stick. If it feels loose or if it's in neutral when the ignition is on, this may be why you're experiencing difficulties with your gears.

The next thing you should do is check your transmission fluid. If the fluids are low or have a lot of corrosion, this could be what's causing your Fiat 500 to not go into gear.

Also, look at the clutch plate and check if it looks worn out or damaged. If you press in the clutch and the gear makes grinding noise, there could be something wrong internally. In this case, you will need to get the car towed!

A light blue colored Fiat 500 parked outside a building

What are the Symptoms of a Faulty Gearbox?

Electric car Fiat 500e Cabrio on a street, Fiat-500-Not-Going-Into-Gear—What-Could-Be-Wrong

If your Fiat 500's gearbox is faulty, it can cause multiple different issues, such as:

  • Not going into certain gears.
  • Vehicle stalling while driving.
  • Difficulty accelerating and/or stopping the vehicle.
  • Gearstick feels loose or not engaging properly.

In this case, you may have to replace the gearbox's gears with new ones that will fix most faulty gearboxes.

How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Gearbox?

The cost to fix a gearbox can vary incredibly depending on what is wrong with the Fiat 500. For example, if the issue is an easy fix, such as a loose gear stick, this may be quite inexpensive compared to replacing a whole clutch or transmission.

On the other hand, if one of your gears has broken internally and needs replacing, this will require a mechanic to open up your gearbox and replace that faulty part. With that being said, the costs could range from $300 to $1500!

How Do you Fix a Gear Shift Problem?

The number one way to fix a faulty gearshift is by checking the fluid. It's relatively inexpensive for a mechanic to check the fluid and top it up if need be. However, this could save you hundreds of dollars on calling out a professional.

However, this is only going to fix the problem if it is an actual problem. So try this first, and if it doesn't solve the problem, you will need to have it looked at by a professional.

Final Thoughts

A front view of a fiat abarth parked on the streets of a beautiful city

We get it; car issues aren't fun, especially when they include not shifting your car into gear. But, unfortunately, car issues will happen whether it's a Fiat 500 or another type of vehicle. All you can do is start by checking the inexpensive fixes, and if those don't work, then reach out to someone who can pinpoint the real issue!

Check out these other maintenance guides:

Do All 4 Tires Need To Be The Same Brand? Or Can You Mix And Match?

What Are The Best Wiper Blades For Winter?

Does A Garage Protect A Car?

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