Käigukang

Käigukang, literally meaning gear lever in Estonian, is the control lever used to select gears in a vehicle’s transmission. It is typically located on the floor between the front seats or on the center console and is connected to the gearbox by a mechanical linkage or, in modern cars, by electronic sensing.

In vehicles with manual transmissions, the käigukang is used to shift through gears (for example, 1st to 5th or 6th, plus reverse). The driver moves the lever in a defined pattern, commonly an H-shaped gate, to select a gear. Shifting requires the clutch to be pressed to disengage the engine from the drivetrain. The lever’s position directly corresponds to the chosen gear, and certain safety features restrict shifting to prevent damage or accidental movement.

In automatic transmissions, the term is often used interchangeably with the gear selector. The lever typically offers positions such as Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N), and Drive (D), with additional modes like Sport or Low for specific driving conditions. Many modern cars use shift-by-wire systems, where electronic signals, rather than a mechanical linkage, control gear selection. Some vehicles employ nontraditional or simplified selectors, including buttons, rotary dials, or paddles behind the steering wheel, while still providing a conventional lever in some models.

Construction and design vary, but common elements include a knob or boot, a handle for grip, and mechanisms or sensors that communicate the selection to the transmission. Proper use and adherence to safety interlocks are standard to prevent unintended gear changes.