Help! Only 3rd And 4th Gear!

[makil6]

My problems just get worse and worse. Replaced the starter last week easy! Now this weeks nightmare is... driving home last night dropped the gears (manual box) to stop at lights, struggled to get it into 2nd. Pulled away then wouldnt go into 5th. after that it would only select 3rd or 4th. struggled home and had a look today. Popped the linkages of at the gearbox and the gear stick moves as it should( so no fault from the knob to the box) when i manually move the linkage at the box i get a bit of agrinding noise, it doesnt appear to be from inside the box( linkage maybe). But even manually moving it i can only move it in the same 2 gears. Please please someone help. this is driving me mad. never had so many probs with the gal in such a short space.

[mumof4]

you checked the gear selector cables?

[matt1003]

im asuming its a manual if so the part your moving on the gearbox should also go in and out as well as backward and forward

does should like one of the gear linkages has come off to me though ?

matt

[makil6]

thanks for the quick reply, ive got to assume the selector cables are ok as when i have them disconnected at the box, the gear knob moves freely in every position. and do you mean the two cables that attach to the box. one moves forward and back and the other appears to be connected to a fulcrum that lifts or lowers some mechanism. the one that moves back n forth doesnt move in and out. is this the one you mean?

[28vr6]

The selector cables at the stick are prone to slipping as there is a plastic clamp that holds the cable at the correct adjustment but they can slip on the metal pushrods, try setting up the gear stick and adjust the cables to the recomended lengths

[makil6]

sorry mate. you would have to expand a bit on that one. youve lost me a little. when i have the cables disconnected at the box should i be able to move the gears by hand. i can on the one side but not on the other.

[Neils TDi again]

Sounds like hte selector has parted from the top shaft, IIRC the same happens on the early TDi boxes and if you have sheared the location bolt off then its likely to be a gearbox out and refurb job or at least the removal and repair of the selector.

 

It may have left the bolt floating in the gearbox so be careful

[steelblue ghia]

We experienced the same loss of gears on our old mk1 tdi last year,the selector bolt had sheared and it then smashed through the bottom of the gearbox !,I did manage to repair the box myself,the gearbox did not have to be removed,it was a case of supporting the gearbox by wooden blocks and a jack,removing the battery and the battery shelf (which is part of the engie/box mounting hence the box needs to be held up)I could then gain access (just !) to the selector assembly where it bolts to the top of the gearbox,remove the selector assy and replace the sheared bolt which cost literally pennies !,I reasembled the selector,put everything back together and luckily the cover that sits under the engine had caught the smashed piece of gearbox casing which i managed to plug back in the hole and patch (bodge !) up whith chemical metal putty,the other part of the sheared bolt luckily had dropped down into the gearbox and was stuck to the magnetic gearbox oil drain plug !re- filled with the correct oil,road test and to this day still works perfectly and does not leak,also worth mentioning that the gearstick in the car was really sloppy feeling before the bolt sheared,once the box was fixed the gearstick was solid and as it should have been,obviously the bolt had been working its way loose for some time.

[makil6]

Just a quick update.....Passed my problems on to a friend of a friend whos a mechanic and apparently its quite common for the gear selector mechanism to sieze up. His advice was to spray with WD40 and try to work it loose. Sprayed it, worked it, sprayed it, worked it and so on. After nearly a couple of hours of growling, crying( nearly), blood running down my arm and virtually lifting the old gal of the ground by hand..........it went. (trapped my finger! but it went) Kept this up a little longer and my prayers were answered. All gears selecting, couldn't believe it. a cheap fix! Covered all the selectors with grease, re fitted the battery tray and wotnot, and now back on the road. Happy days. Thanks again folks and hope this may help someone in the future..