How a Shifter Works

Here's how the automatic transmission shifter on your center console works to shift gears.

The gear shifter on your car is responsible for providing the driver an input method to changing the direction of the transmission in an automatic car. It is also a safety device preventing the shifter from being bumped into gear, ruining the transmission.

Two mechanisms are at play, to protect those around the vehicle and the transmission itself. The park - brake lockout secures the shifter in the P position until the key is in the ignition and the brake is depressed. The shift control computer, located underneath the shifter, will determine if these conditions are met and activate a solenoid to move a tab to allow the shifter to move.

The second mechanism at play is a detent rod that glides along a toothed profile. The rod must be pushed down (the button on the shifter depressed) in order for it to move into gear.

Manual transmissions do not have a park lockout or a toothed profile preventing certain gears from being selected, and hence must be used with caution.

This shifter was taken out of a 2001 Toyota Corolla with a 4 speed automatic transmission.

[koffibanan]

Incredible the amount of detail and work that goes into each little component we take for granted. Thanks for showing us!!
Weird that north americans are so addicted to their automatic transmissions, big roads, long distances. It would make more sense here in Europe where the roads are so smalls and there's basically one big traffic jam, yet everyone drives a stick..

[xwildcard]

Look at all that glorious 90s plastic.

[marschrr]

To me, this channel is being much more about Reverse Engineering than Mechanics.. Which for some may sound not that pleasant but again, to me, it's amazing!! Keep up the great job!

[raindropraindrop]

Your videos are really amazing. People actually get to see the stripped parts and understand how they work, thank you!

[scottketchum]

You are by far the smartest mechanic I've ever seen

[JoseAlvarez-rzsl]

You are a great mechanic and you explain it all so well .

[JackRR]

Just wanna see keem 'em coming with these videos. You got me hooked. Thanks a lot!

[AliShaarawi]

Another Badass video. Great work. I learn so much from you, and you amaze me how much knowledge you have.
Keep up the amazing work! ;)

[Yathuprem]

Does all automatics have that mechanical cable running to transmission ?? Kudos for 6:28 .. ur the real car enthusiast..

[defox_nz]

1:48 “i have to de-pin this nicely” SNIP. 🤣🤣

[bengun]

showing how a shifter from the 80s is assembled in year 2017. Very useful indeed

[thatduderayy]

“I’m going to have to depin it nicely” had me dead

[ABGamings]

Thank you, answered my burning question better than what school would but me through

[ziyad.h]

Yay😁😁 ur bros toothbrush is back in the vids 👏

[eduardoantunez]

Hey I have a question about the shift lever. This car I have has been sitting in my driveway because the shift lever rod snapped off, how do I go about fixing it? Thanks for the informative video too!

[filmaker]

Perfect! I have a question ? A lot of people can't answer directly because its hard to figure out. But why do you need to use the overide button? Why does it go into that  ? I know it gets hard to pull out of park, but why does that happen? Another person I asked just kept saying it was a safety feature but "why does it do that" !?? It doesn't mean the parking pawl is damaged right?

[mb]

Genius breakdown. One little chip on plastic inside assembly..instant headache.

[TheeWandering]

Would it be possible to have video for a Manual shifter? I've been trying to visualize how the lever engages with the shifter forks. And it gets even more complex with FWD which I believe uses shifter links because the transmission is bolted way over in the engine bay rather than in the cabin like a rwd would be.

[surpk]

Mthr Fr, you crack DEEP, brother you crack DEEEP. And I listened and watch very carefully, as a result I learned. I had a job to do cause my 97 Szki Sideck needed some attention and I gave it. Almost no plastic parts except the wheel that catches in park on the pin, so I qswabbed a little WD-[different mechanism(spring and ball on stick that catch on indents)same outcome] on each indent from P to L and bingo no more hassle from my chick.

Thanks BRO

[luke]

Very good video. Also,

How does a column shifter work? Those are my favorite!