Possible reasons why the automatic transmission is difficult to engage:
1. Low transmission fluid level
* Insufficient fluid may result in low system pressure and difficulty shifting gears.
2. Contaminated or old transmission fluid
* Over time, the fluid becomes contaminated with impurities and loses its properties, which can affect the operation of the gearbox.
3. Problems with the torque converter
* The torque converter changes the engine torque transmitted to the transmission. A faulty torque converter can make it difficult to engage the gear.
4. System pressure is too high or low
* Too much or too little pressure can interfere with smooth shifting.
5. Wear/damage to clutches and steel discs
* These components are involved in the gear shifting process. Their wear or damage can cause the gears to slip or become difficult to engage.
6. Faulty transmission sensors
* Sensors (for example, gear selector position sensor) transmit information about the position of the selector and the engine speed. Failure of the sensors may result in incorrect or delayed response from the transmission.
7. Electrical problems
* Faults in wiring or electrical components such as shift solenoids can interfere with transmission operation.
8. Software glitches
* Modern automatic transmissions are controlled by electronic control units (ECUs). Software glitches in the ECU can cause problems with gear shifting.
9. Incorrect adjustment of the gear selector cable
* Incorrect adjustment of the selector cable may result in difficulty shifting gears due to inaccurate positioning of the selector.
10. Transmission overheating
*Overheating can damage internal transmission components and cause shifting problems.