# Transmission-in-law? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 26, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661 "2012-05-26T20:01:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mairob12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b2d939/32.png) [@Mairob12](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mairob12)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661/1 "2012-05-26T20:01:13Z")
My future mother-in-law has a 2004 Chevy Cavalier. Last night night when she tried to put it in gear, the car would not go in reverse or drive. She recently had a tune-up on her car a month ago and everything seemed to be working fine. I think the transmission is dead. Does that sound right? ---
**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:** [May 26, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661/2 "2012-05-26T20:03:10Z")
Yes, it does sound like a transmission problem. The first step it to check the transmission fluid, via its dipstick. Please do this, and then report back to us (in this same thread) regarding the level, color, and odor of the fluid. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661/3 "2012-05-26T20:35:02Z")
Maybe. I also seem to replace shift cables (the part that connects the shifter inside the car to the transmission) on these cars more than others. Check–carefully–to make sure the shifter is actually shifting the transmission. ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661/4 "2012-05-26T23:44:34Z")
If it’s not a fluid issue, then it’s best to go to a good local transmission shop (or the dealer, but probably at a much higher price). Avoid any chain transmission places. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2012, 5:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661/5 "2012-05-27T05:32:16Z")
Is this an entry in the vaguest post contest? ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 6:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661/6 "2012-05-27T06:17:22Z")
I’m with oldtimer 11 on the vagueness. Are you saying that the gear shifter won’t move? Or are you saying that you shift the car into D and the car won’t move? Those are two completely different things. ---
**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:** [May 27, 2012, 9:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661/7 "2012-05-27T09:33:25Z")
Since we frequently have to “pull teeth” in order to get clarity from so many people, perhaps we can have a new icon. How about something like “apprentice dentist” for reaching the goal of teasing additional details out of 25 people who were exceptionally vague in the way that they posed their question? **;-))** ---
**Author:** ![JosephEMeehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@JosephEMeehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JosephEMeehan)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661/8 "2012-05-27T13:25:47Z")
Mairob12, Could you tell us if it is a manual or automatic transmission? ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-in-law/72661/9 "2012-05-27T23:38:47Z")
Ah, just the beginning of married life and the fun of in-laws.