# No gears found **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** mercury, sable\ **Created:** [July 23, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088 "2019-07-23T17:30:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![buddhalite\_155125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@buddhalite\_155125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddhalite_155125)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/1 "2019-07-23T17:30:07Z")
Car starts. Shifter moves. Finds no gears. Up and down the shifter goes…nothing. Ran great - parked it when I got to work - when I went to leave - nothing. Where to start? Sensor? VSS? Linkage (is it a manual linkage?) Help! ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 5:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/2 "2019-07-23T17:31:50Z")
Did you check the transmission fluid level/condition? Tester ---
**Author:** ![buddhalite\_155125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@buddhalite\_155125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddhalite_155125)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 5:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/3 "2019-07-23T17:38:33Z")
Hi Tester - yes, the fluid is not only in proper level and order - it was dropped, filter changed and flushed and filled about a month before that happened. Seems so odd to me that it just broke while it wasn’t moving…I’ve had a few transmissions crap out on me…but never like this… ---
**Author:** ![anon86613489](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@anon86613489](https://community.cartalk.com/u/anon86613489)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/4 "2019-07-23T18:29:22Z")
> [@buddhalite\_155125](#): > > it was dropped, filter changed and flushed and filled about a month before that happened. That was a month ago. Have You checked it today? If not, then now is the time to do it. I assume the problem showed up today. ---
**Author:** ![buddhalite\_155125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@buddhalite\_155125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddhalite_155125)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/5 "2019-07-23T19:00:12Z")
yes, yes and yes. Fluid present on dipstick and clean (brand new practically…) ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/6 "2019-07-23T19:07:19Z")
> [@buddhalite\_155125](#): > > yes, the fluid is not only in proper level and order - it was dropped, filter changed and flushed and filled about a month before that happened Was this done because you were having problems with the transmission, and hoping this would cure it ? Was the proper fluid used ? not all transmission fluids are the same, just because it said Mercon doesn’t mean it was the right Mercon. ---
**Author:** ![buddhalite\_155125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@buddhalite\_155125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddhalite_155125)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/7 "2019-07-23T19:09:12Z")
It was done when I purchased the vehicle - becuase it still AFAIK had the factory fluid and filter. There were no problems prior to this. FWIW - the fluid change was done by a reputable mechanic who is sadly no longer with us. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/8 "2019-07-23T19:16:12Z")
I would help to know year make and model as well as the type of transmission (manual or auto) and number of miles on it. By now I have surmised that it is an automatic, but the rest would help. Also if auto, is it a CVT or a geared transmission. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/9 "2019-07-23T19:34:02Z")
> [@keith](#): > > is it a CVT or a geared transmission. If the OP’s identification of the vehicle as a Mercury Sable is accurate, we can rule out a CVT, and because of the elimination of that marque, we can surmise that it is at least 10 years old. I don’t think that they were sold with anything other than a conventional automatic trans. ---
**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/10 "2019-07-23T19:56:04Z")
Didn’t see that it was a Sable. I have trouble seeing a light gray type on a white background. ---
**Author:** ![buddhalite\_155125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@buddhalite\_155125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddhalite_155125)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/11 "2019-07-23T23:44:11Z")
04 Mercury Sable Wagon. Column shift - it’s just so weird. Can’t figure it out. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/12 "2019-07-24T02:57:55Z")
Does it feel any different when you move shifter? Any sign it’s a linkage problem? ---
**Author:** ![buddhalite\_155125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@buddhalite\_155125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddhalite_155125)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/13 "2019-07-24T04:06:23Z")
Nno, not really - feels like you would be putting it right into gear and taking off - but it engages no gear. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2019, 4:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/14 "2019-07-24T04:16:51Z")
When in drive will the car move if pushed? That would prove that the transmission is not in park due to a broken shift cable. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 4:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/15 "2019-07-24T04:20:28Z")
If the shift cable were broken, all the OP would have to do is shift into reverse and see if the back-up lights turn on. Tester ---
**Author:** ![buddhalite\_155125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@buddhalite\_155125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddhalite_155125)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/16 "2019-07-24T05:20:55Z")
Car does not move at all - no matter where the gear shift is at any time. ---
**Author:** ![buddhalite\_155125](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@buddhalite\_155125](https://community.cartalk.com/u/buddhalite_155125)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 5:21am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/17 "2019-07-24T05:21:53Z")
Didn’t look to see if the backup lights come on - the brake lights work, I know that… ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 7:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/18 "2019-07-24T07:50:14Z")
AFAIK? FWIW?, meaning? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 11:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/19 "2019-07-24T11:49:36Z")
> [@oldtimer-11](#): > > AFAIK? FWIW?, meaning? AFAIK=As far as I know FWIW=For what it’s worth ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2019, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088/20 "2019-07-24T12:47:05Z")
When you say “flush,” what exactly was the procedure done? [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/no-gears-found/145088.md?page=2)