Gears Not Selecting After Long Journey.

[pretty_snowdrop]

I have a 2008 vw touran. Recently after long motorway runs (150 miles plus) the gears are jamming. I am unable to select a gear for about 2 mins ( it seams like a life time) then it corrects itself and is totally fine for the remainder of the journey. I frequently travel 20 miles on the motor way and it never happens then. Has anyone any ideas what the problem could be? Also the car sometimes judders when moving from 1st to 2nd gear, could these problems be related?

[tonyav]

Manual or auto gearbox ?.

[pretty_snowdrop]

sorry, manual.

[tonyav]

Is there any graunching and grinding noises coming from the gearbox when you try to engage a gear.

[pretty_snowdrop]

no, the gears sound and act fine until after the long journey.

[tonyav]

Not 100% sure, snowdrop but sounds like there is a gear selector problem, maybe internal or the external selector rods need some adjustment.
When you can't select a gear for about two mins is that only 1st gear or can you select any gear except 1st gear.

[Old_Geezer]

I wonder why it matters. Whatever the garage needs to check the clutch/gearbox and get it fixed.

[pretty_snowdrop]

initially I couldn't choose any gear, then I managed to select first and moved the car into a safe place, then suddenly everything was ok.

[tonyav]

Have the gears been ok since you managed to select first gear ( and the rest of the gears ) apart from the judder from 1st to 2nd gear.

[pretty_snowdrop]

Normally the gears are fine. This is the 2nd time it's happened after a long journey though. After it happened today, I drove an additional 5 miles home everything absolutely fine.

[tonyav]

I have a feeling that heat has something to do with this, not to sure how though.

[tonyav]

Another thought about this, could be that the gearbox oil level is low.

[pretty_snowdrop]

Thanks for your answers. Karen,everything is fine with day to day runs, I knock up quite a lot of miles and use the gears quite lot, so I can't understand why the gears don't jam on a day to day basis if it was the pins or forks .Tony, I read on somewhere online that it may be air in the hydraulics, which is heating up and expanding thus causing an airlock, but yet again why doesn't this happen on my way to work. I will get the oil checked in the gear box and go from there. Thanks again

[tonyav]

Ah heat causing an airlock in the hydraulics, that would be the hydraulics on the clutch, snowdrop.

[tonyav]

Sorry, should add it would be a good idea to bleed the hydraulic system on the clutch.

[Slapshot]

Your clutch/cluth thrust bearing are knackered. If you have a hydraulic clutch the slave cylinder may be wornd not giving you enough travel to engage/disengage the clutch fully.... 1st/2nd juddering is more likely to suggest a clutch problem

[TWR]

I was about to say the Oil Tony, get that checked first Snowdrop.

[jomifl]

oil level in sump/gearbox could be the problem. some gearboxes rely on the oil to cool the hardworking bits.

[royfromaus]

I'm puzzled how you think that asking about this particular problem here can help you.
You obviously need to get the car to a garage for a mechanic to look at.