HELP 07 Dodge Caliber stuck in gear!!!

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

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

I thought it only had one gear.

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.

May be a worn/bad clutch issue.

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?

Is this trans rod linkage or cable?

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.

clutch and clutch solenoid were both replaced in the spring. I will check the bushing.

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.

This is what I was getting at with the questions. Specific answers will get to the problem.

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

ROTFL. That is great news.

That must be a Chevy lovin Squirrel.

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

Why would you tear into the engine for a shifting problem?

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.

If you look long enough,you can always find a nut somewhere !!

i HATE squirrels !
have a look where they left their nuts in my charger !
i then proceeded to depart the squirrel from his nutz !