# Won't shift into drive **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 5, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-shift-into-drive/66865 "2011-08-05T00:33:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gatorfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8edcca/32.png) [@Gatorfan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gatorfan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-shift-into-drive/66865/1 "2011-08-05T00:33:32Z")
I had my car towed to the shop today because when I put the gear in drive, the engine would gun like it was in neutral. It would go in reverse, but not in drive. I asked them to check the transmission fluid and it wasn’t low. Any ideas what it could be and how much it might cost? ---
**Author:** ![cdaquila](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cdaquila/32/18089_2.png) [@cdaquila](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cdaquila)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-shift-into-drive/66865/2 "2011-08-05T00:54:50Z")
I don’t have an answer to your question, but I suspect it would be helpful to others if you supplied your make, model, year, and any maintenance history that might be relevant. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Gatorfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8edcca/32.png) [@Gatorfan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gatorfan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 2:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-shift-into-drive/66865/3 "2011-08-05T02:43:44Z")
2001 Honda Civic. Never had any problems before. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-shift-into-drive/66865/4 "2011-08-05T03:14:09Z")
Not to be a downer, but when my Olds did that, my forward clutches were shot and needed a trans overhaul. Had to back out of the parking ramp to a surface lot where it could be towed. I never had any warning either but it was about 10 below out. I suppose there are some simpler things but with the history of those transmissions, I’d get prepared. ---
**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-shift-into-drive/66865/5 "2011-08-05T03:23:17Z")
This is never good. You could get lucky on something simple, but Honda had lots of bad troubles with transmissions in the '00-range of years. Figure $2500-4000 Don’t leave the car with a general purpose shop. You need a shop that specializes in transmissions - a locally owned shop rather than any kind of national chain. ---
**Author:** ![transman618](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/transman618/32/24_2.png) [@transman618](https://community.cartalk.com/u/transman618)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 5:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-shift-into-drive/66865/6 "2011-08-05T05:00:53Z")
Will it move at all in L1 or L2?? The trans needs to be rebuilt but I was just curious. transman ---
**Author:** ![Gatorfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8edcca/32.png) [@Gatorfan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Gatorfan)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2011, 6:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/wont-shift-into-drive/66865/7 "2011-08-05T06:52:54Z")
Doesn’t sound good ☹ It doesn’t go forward in any gear.