Gears problem

[lankeela]

I have an old Renault Espace, and for a while I have had a problem engaging reverse, as I have a weak wrist and you have to lift the button and push it to the far left. Once or twice it had been grinding a bit when engaging reverse, but I thought it was me. Now I can hardly get it in reverse and first has also started being awkward, so it seems that its not just me. Any ideas whether this is just the clutch cable needing adjusting, or the clutch going, or worse the gearbox kn*ckered. My usual chap who sees to these things is on holiday till Wednesday, but any ideas welcome so I can start counting the pennies in my moneybox, or looking for a new jamjar.

[tonyav]

hi lankeela, doe's the car jump forward when you eventualy manage to engage 1st or reverse gear ( backwards in reverse gear ) if so it is probably a clutch fault. if it is a gearbox fault it could be either a sycromesh or selector fault on said gears. can you select 2nd gear without it grinding ?.
ps if you have a weak wrist and you are considering buying another car have you thought about buying one with a automatic gearbox.

[lankeela]

No it doesn't jump, what I have been doing (if possible) is putting it in reverse before starting the engine and now I have to then turn it off again and put it in 1st. 2nd is a bit stiff, but 2nd into 3rd is ok, as is 3rd into 4th. Although it was always awkward I just put it down to being me.

I drive several other vehicles during the course of a week (from a transit to a 4wd chelsea tractor) and I don't have a problem, its just the placement of the gear stick in the Espace is such that you can't get your hand between the stick and the passenger seat with the palm downwards, you have to have your palm up and thats when the problem occurs in gripping the lift up button and
moving the stick across to the left at the same time.

[tonyav]

have you always had this problem with this espace ?. or is it only recently that you have had this problem ? .

[lankeela]

Only recently, the last couple of weeks the reverse has been grinding, usually when the car is running hot if that makes any difference (I do a market and sometimes have to wait to park, and when I then reverse into the pitch it really grinds). This last couple of days though it has suddenly become impossible to get into reverse without a real crunching, and as I said, 1st has now become the same. Have stopped driving it as coming home last night I could only get from 2nd to 3rd and then 4th, and when stopping at junctions, had to start off in 2nd. Just need to know if it sounds terminal (or expensive) or whether it is something simple like an adjustment to the cable or even oil needed (I am one of those morons who never lifts the bonnet of a car, as long as they start when you turn the key thats good enough for me - sorry if that offends!).

[tonyav]

i would wait for your man to get back of his hols and get him to have a look, could be something pretty simple such as a cable adjustment or gear linkage adjustment or something a bit more serious.

[Buenchico]

Hi Lankeela

I had a similar problem on a Citroen BX. The 'helpful' garage said that I needed a new clutch. They then showed me the official servicing information to justify their statement that they'd have to remove the suspension and spend 8� hours labour on the job! You can imagine the size of the bill I got!

A week or so after getting the car back, I started having trouble getting the car into gear again. I took it back and they adjusted the clutch cable.

Two or three days later I was back at the garage again, with the same problem. When they investigated further it turned out that a small L-shaped piece of metal (which fitted onto the end of clutch cable) had become 'torn' (so that the two arms were no longer at 90 degrees from each other - the gap was now more like 120 degrees). They quickly hammered the relevant piece of metal back into shape, and welded it in the correct position.

So I'd paid for a new clutch (and 8� hours labour) when all that was needed was 5 minutes labour!

So, before you let your garage con you into fitting a new gear box, get them to check the piece of metal at the end of the clutch cable.

Chris

[lankeela]

Thanks for the heads up Chris, although I trust my mechanic chap implicitly. He is one of those who will weld a piece of metal on to save replacing something, and gets used parts if he can. He has kept my old bangers on the road long after their 'use by' dates! Just wish he wouldn't have the occasional holiday, as thats usually when something goes wrong.

[sara3]

hi lankeela, I had a problem with my car (an Alfa) and had mega problems getting it into 3rd gear. when I finally gave up and took it to the garage, it was the gear linkage.. a chain kinda thing (I'm no mechanic!) that sits on top of the gearbox. they took it out, cleaned and oiled it, and it was fine.

I hope yours is something simple like that.