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HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! #2709030
10/21/19 09:53 PM
10/21/19 09:53 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,058
Escondido, California
JonGottaDemonDad Offline OP
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JonGottaDemonDad  Offline OP
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Escondido, California
I have own the caliber since new and I was driving it for years and yesterday I went out to drive it and it is stuck in 2nd gear. I can go to neutral but that is it. I hopped in and drove it down the road but still, it will not go out of 2nd gear. It is a 5 speed manual transmission.

Any idea or advice?

Thanks,

Craig

Last edited by JonGottaDemonDad; 10/22/19 08:52 AM.
Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: JonGottaDemonDad] #2709031
10/21/19 09:57 PM
10/21/19 09:57 PM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,346
It's a dry heat
gtx6970 Offline
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gtx6970  Offline
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It's a dry heat
my gut tells me your not going to like the outcome of this

That should be the the variable trans. And unless somethings changed there are no serviceable parts
its a 1 part number repair

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: gtx6970] #2709037
10/21/19 10:13 PM
10/21/19 10:13 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Guitar Jones Offline
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in a cattle trailer down by th...
I thought it only had one gear.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: mopars4ever] #2709100
10/22/19 08:53 AM
10/22/19 08:53 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,058
Escondido, California
JonGottaDemonDad Offline OP
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JonGottaDemonDad  Offline OP
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It is a 5 speed manual trans and from what I have ready it is a hard link to the trans. I have yet to dig into the motor itself I am afraid of what I might find.

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: JonGottaDemonDad] #2709105
10/22/19 09:02 AM
10/22/19 09:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,544
md
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mopars4ever Online content
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md
May be a worn/bad clutch issue.

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: JonGottaDemonDad] #2709130
10/22/19 10:24 AM
10/22/19 10:24 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Guitar Jones Offline
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Originally Posted by JonGottaDemonDad
It is a 5 speed manual trans and from what I have ready it is a hard link to the trans. I have yet to dig into the motor itself I am afraid of what I might find.

So does the shifter go into neutral but the trans is still in 2nd? Or do you actually get neutral when moving the shifter? Does the shifter just move between 2nd and neutral or will it go into any other gear with the engine off?


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: Guitar Jones] #2709176
10/22/19 12:54 PM
10/22/19 12:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,883
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Online content
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stumpy  Online Content
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Grand Prairie,Texas
Is this trans rod linkage or cable?

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: JonGottaDemonDad] #2709180
10/22/19 01:01 PM
10/22/19 01:01 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,188
Looking for a way out of Middl...
IMGTX Offline
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Looking for a way out of Middl...
Sounds to me like a bad shifter cable/bushing.

Modern Stick Shift FWD transmissions use 2 shift cables. One moves the lever on the transmission in and out and the other rotates the lever. The combination of the two moves puts the car in to the correct gear.

The #1 weak link on that design is the bushing at the end of the shift cable. If it is busted it may not move the lever far enough to go to the transmission's internal shift mechanism's neutral position. It may still disengage the gear but not move far enough to allow the transmission to move between throws or even into the paired gear. Hence stuck in 2nd and it can't move far enough to go anywhere else.

On some cables you can replace just the bushing and others require the whole cable. Several years and models of later model cars had recalls on the cable/bushings. You may check into a free fix from the dealer.

It could also be the clutch needs bleeding or the cylinder is bad. If so it should shift through all gears with the engine running and the front tires off the ground. The clutch reservoir is the brake fluid reservoir. They are one and the same on many (maybe all) Calibers.

It could be a bad clutch but that too should shift through all the gears with the engine off and the front tires off the ground.

The most serous problem is doubtful because it doesn't go out quickly but usually slowly and it lets you know it's giving up the ghost. That transmission has a weak first gear synchronizer assembly and it is serviced as one whole unit not the individual synchronizer parts. You do not have to replace the whole transmission but by the time you are into it for a pre-assembled shaft of gears, labor etc. a good used one is a cheaper route.

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: IMGTX] #2709190
10/22/19 01:16 PM
10/22/19 01:16 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,058
Escondido, California
JonGottaDemonDad Offline OP
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JonGottaDemonDad  Offline OP
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Escondido, California
clutch and clutch solenoid were both replaced in the spring. I will check the bushing.

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: JonGottaDemonDad] #2709199
10/22/19 01:45 PM
10/22/19 01:45 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,188
Looking for a way out of Middl...
IMGTX Offline
I Live Here
IMGTX  Offline
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Posts: 12,188
Looking for a way out of Middl...
I have seen the cables break internally and cause a lot of frustration.
If you suspect the cable remove the console and measure the movement of the end of the cable inside the car and under the hood. Any noticeable deviation and it should be replaced.

Cables breaking happen a lot less often than the bushings but I have seen many break and leave partial movement at the transmission end.

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: IMGTX] #2709255
10/22/19 06:06 PM
10/22/19 06:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Guitar Jones Offline
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
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Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
This is what I was getting at with the questions. Specific answers will get to the problem.


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: stumpy] #2709274
10/22/19 06:56 PM
10/22/19 06:56 PM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,058
Escondido, California
JonGottaDemonDad Offline OP
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JonGottaDemonDad  Offline OP
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Posts: 1,058
Escondido, California
Well I am totally embarrassed I tore into the engine after you guys gave me full confidence that I could fix the issues and found out that that the only issue is a squirrel stuck a walnut between the bushing and the transmission. Any other gear they could not of perfectly landed that walnut!!!

Thanks again everyone for your help!

Craig

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: JonGottaDemonDad] #2709295
10/22/19 07:57 PM
10/22/19 07:57 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 12,188
Looking for a way out of Middl...
IMGTX Offline
I Live Here
IMGTX  Offline
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Looking for a way out of Middl...
ROTFL. That is great news.

That must be a Chevy lovin Squirrel.

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: JonGottaDemonDad] #2709304
10/22/19 08:19 PM
10/22/19 08:19 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,390
Highland, MI.
Sunroofcuda Offline
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Originally Posted by JonGottaDemonDad
Well I am totally embarrassed I tore into the engine after you guys gave me full confidence that I could fix the issues and found out that that the only issue is a squirrel stuck a walnut between the bushing and the transmission. Any other gear they could not of perfectly landed that walnut!!!

Thanks again everyone for your help!

Craig


OK, now that's funnier than shi+! Glad it was minor!


No Man With A Good Car Needs To Be Justified
Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: JonGottaDemonDad] #2709399
10/23/19 08:27 AM
10/23/19 08:27 AM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
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Guitar Jones Offline
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
Guitar Jones  Offline
Paddle faster! I hear banjo music!
G

Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,600
in a cattle trailer down by th...
Why would you tear into the engine for a shifting problem?


"Follow me the wise man said, but he walked behind"


'92 D250 Club Cab CTD, 47RH conversion, pump tweaks, injectors, rear disc and hydroboost conversion.
'74 W200 Crew Cab 360, NV4500, D44, D60 and NP205 divorced transfer case. Rear disc and hydroboost coming soon!
2019 1500 Long Horn Crew Cab 4WD, 5.7 Hemi.
Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: Guitar Jones] #2709403
10/23/19 08:46 AM
10/23/19 08:46 AM
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,741
Holland MI Ottawa
2
2boltmain Offline
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Holland MI Ottawa
Rodents cause HUGE problems. Most often they chew wires and some shops will charge you for them shooting the parts cannon at your vehicle all the while not finding the chewed up problem area. I get nervous seeing all the wildlife scurrying about my front and rear lawns.


Keep old mopars alive.
Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: 2boltmain] #2709476
10/23/19 11:50 AM
10/23/19 11:50 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,436
Blair County,PA
62maxwgn Offline
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Blair County,PA
If you look long enough,you can always find a nut somewhere !! grin

Re: HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!! [Re: 62maxwgn] #2709504
10/23/19 12:44 PM
10/23/19 12:44 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 19,239
north of coder
moparx Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"
moparx  Offline
"Butt Crack Bob"

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Posts: 19,239
north of coder
i HATE squirrels !
have a look where they left their nuts in my charger ! mad
i then proceeded to depart the squirrel from his nutz ! biggrin
beer

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