# 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Shifter doesn’t always slide into gear **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** chevrolet, cobalt\ **Created:** [January 13, 2020, 10:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-shifter-doesn-t-always-slide-into-gear/156435 "2020-01-13T10:12:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CarolKeating](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@CarolKeating](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CarolKeating)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 10:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-shifter-doesn-t-always-slide-into-gear/156435/1 "2020-01-13T10:12:54Z")
The problem I have is that sometimes my shifter won’t slide into gear. Sometimes im sitting in the parking space and I cannot put it in Reverse. Sometimes I can and I get down the road and or goes into gear just fine but then all of a sudden it won’t go into gear again and I’m virtually stalled in the middle of the road with cars honking at me and flipping me off as they go around me. What can I do? Is this a serious problem or should I take my son in laws advice? He says, “just wiggle the shifter around till I find that sweet spot when it goes into great smoothly” ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-shifter-doesn-t-always-slide-into-gear/156435/2 "2020-01-13T13:51:26Z")
This is a safety issue and needs to be addressed. ---
**Author:** ![CarolKeating](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@CarolKeating](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CarolKeating)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 3:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-shifter-doesn-t-always-slide-into-gear/156435/3 "2020-01-13T15:17:53Z")
Should I take it to a transmission specialist or to an auto repair shop? ---
**Author:** ![tcmichnorth](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tcmichnorth/32/25126_2.png) [@tcmichnorth](https://community.cartalk.com/u/tcmichnorth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 4:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-shifter-doesn-t-always-slide-into-gear/156435/4 "2020-01-13T16:40:50Z")
Transmission specialist. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-shifter-doesn-t-always-slide-into-gear/156435/5 "2020-01-13T16:42:54Z")
> [@CarolKeating](#): > > should I take my son in laws advice? He says, “just wiggle the shifter around till I find that sweet spot when it goes into great smoothly” If he thinks that is such a good idea ( I don’t ) then let him buy the vehicle and drive it that way. ---
**Author:** ![CarolKeating](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@CarolKeating](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CarolKeating)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-shifter-doesn-t-always-slide-into-gear/156435/6 "2020-01-13T17:08:42Z")
Thank you Thank You Carol Keating ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 8:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-shifter-doesn-t-always-slide-into-gear/156435/7 "2020-01-13T20:41:48Z")
Sounds like the clutch isn’t fully releasing, check the fluid level in the reservoir. ---
**Author:** ![CarolKeating](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@CarolKeating](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CarolKeating)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2020, 2:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2009-chevrolet-cobalt-shifter-doesn-t-always-slide-into-gear/156435/8 "2020-01-16T02:10:48Z")
It turns out the problem was my floormat wasn’t allowing me to push the clutch in far enough to shift properly. Problem solved. The floormat is now in the dumpster. Thank You Carol Keating