Wobbly Gear Stick at High Speed
Discussion
Hello all,
Off on hols tomorrow (so sorry if I don't reply to your responses) but I just had a call with the puzzled garage man regarding the S and wanted to run it by you guys whilst its fresh in the memory.
The car is generally performing well - no untoward vibrations etc ... - that is until you get to around 75 to 80mph - at which point the gear stick starts to wobble fairly wildly to left and right by about two inches - possibly even a little up and down. Power on the road also feels variable. If I push on to about 90 - 95 it kind of gets itself back together.
To me it seems that something is going wrong somewhere in the drive train. However the mechanic (who is good) can find little wrong with it. The universal joints were replaced 6 months ago so its unlikely to be that, and he thinks the prop shaft is okay. Its possible that one of the diff mounts is ever so slightly loose - but its marginal.
Any thoughts ?
Means I probably wont make S Club Heaven this year which is a bit of a pisser too.
WG
Off on hols tomorrow (so sorry if I don't reply to your responses) but I just had a call with the puzzled garage man regarding the S and wanted to run it by you guys whilst its fresh in the memory.
The car is generally performing well - no untoward vibrations etc ... - that is until you get to around 75 to 80mph - at which point the gear stick starts to wobble fairly wildly to left and right by about two inches - possibly even a little up and down. Power on the road also feels variable. If I push on to about 90 - 95 it kind of gets itself back together.
To me it seems that something is going wrong somewhere in the drive train. However the mechanic (who is good) can find little wrong with it. The universal joints were replaced 6 months ago so its unlikely to be that, and he thinks the prop shaft is okay. Its possible that one of the diff mounts is ever so slightly loose - but its marginal.
Any thoughts ?
Means I probably wont make S Club Heaven this year which is a bit of a pisser too.
WG
Danny,
Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
Roy C said:
Danny,
Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
Hi Roy,Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
Can't say I've checked it as such - but I am aware of the "holding gearstick" issue - and thus don't do it. Also - at lower speed - the stick feels secure for want of a better expression. Which leads to the horrible thought of something in the gearbox being the problem ... it only seems to happen in 5th.
Thanks !
Mine used to wobble under load and at speed and the bolt into the gearbox mount to gearbox bolt was loose. Another possibility is that the mount could also have perished.
The degree of wobble you talking about is quite large so I can't understand why the garage isn't telling you what the problem is. Would you care to name so that whoever offers the correct advice can invoice them?
The degree of wobble you talking about is quite large so I can't understand why the garage isn't telling you what the problem is. Would you care to name so that whoever offers the correct advice can invoice them?
Jed-S said:
Mine used to wobble under load and at speed and the bolt into the gearbox mount to gearbox bolt was loose. Another possibility is that the mount could also have perished.
The degree of wobble you talking about is quite large so I can't understand why the garage isn't telling you what the problem is. Would you care to name so that whoever offers the correct advice can invoice them?
Wouldn't dream of it - he's actually very good but was under a bit of time pressure. Didn't charge me either.The degree of wobble you talking about is quite large so I can't understand why the garage isn't telling you what the problem is. Would you care to name so that whoever offers the correct advice can invoice them?
This sounds the sort of thing. How much of a pain was it to diagnose ?
WonkyGibbon said:
This sounds the sort of thing. How much of a pain was it to diagnose ?
Lowering the exhaust (2 bolts on box and 1 near the tailpipes) will allow easy access. You should be able to get a jemmy bar in to lever the gearbox to see if you can move it easily.See the entry for 10th August on this page when I had a similar issue.
http://deadpineapple.net/tvr/diary/2006.php
WonkyGibbon said:
Roy C said:
Danny,
Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
Thanks !Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
1. How can holding it cause it to break?
2. How can I cure the buzz which seems to emanate from the gear lever remote linkage houseing? The gearbox is otherwise quiet and vibration free.
thanks for any comments.
S2Andy said:
WonkyGibbon said:
Roy C said:
Danny,
Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
Thanks !Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
1. How can holding it cause it to break?
2. How can I cure the buzz which seems to emanate from the gear lever remote linkage houseing? The gearbox is otherwise quiet and vibration free.
thanks for any comments.
clarenceboddiger said:
S2Andy said:
WonkyGibbon said:
Roy C said:
Danny,
Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
Thanks !Have you checked the "dogleg" that connects the top of the gearstick to the selector below? This was fitted by TVR to move the stick forwards to a useable position as the gearbox is so far back. They have been known to fall apart through vibration, especially if you hold the stick while driving.
1. How can holding it cause it to break?
2. How can I cure the buzz which seems to emanate from the gear lever remote linkage houseing? The gearbox is otherwise quiet and vibration free.
thanks for any comments.
S2Andy said:
My gear stick buzzes at 3000 rpm in every gear, and I have kept my sanity by lightly holding it. 2 questions
1. How can holding it cause it to break?
2. How can I cure the buzz which seems to emanate from the gear lever remote linkage houseing? The gearbox is otherwise quiet and vibration free.
thanks for any comments.
Thats just reminded me. Mine went back to the dealer in '89 for the 'factory mod' to cure exactly that problem.1. How can holding it cause it to break?
2. How can I cure the buzz which seems to emanate from the gear lever remote linkage houseing? The gearbox is otherwise quiet and vibration free.
thanks for any comments.
Just wish I could remember more
Jed-S said:
Mine used to wobble under load and at speed and the bolt into the gearbox mount to gearbox bolt was loose. Another possibility is that the mount could also have perished.
The degree of wobble you talking about is quite large so I can't understand why the garage isn't telling you what the problem is. Would you care to name so that whoever offers the correct advice can invoice them?
The degree of wobble you talking about is quite large so I can't understand why the garage isn't telling you what the problem is. Would you care to name so that whoever offers the correct advice can invoice them?
S3Paulo said:
Mine used to wobble at speed until I renewed the gearbox resilient mount and now it doesn't anymore...
Paul.
Hi there - just back from hols again.Paul.
Paulo - is what you are calling the gearbox resilient mount the same thing that Jed-S was tightening (there's a picture of the offending item on his blog) ?
(Trying to work out whether its one thing to investigate or two)
Thanks guys,
WG
Sorry..I can't make much out of the photo but it certainly looks like the mount that i purchased from tvrcarparts. I didn't fit it either my local indie did the job...it did reduce my gear box shake and hence gear lever wobble. There is only one mount for the gear box ...so i was told.
Sorry for not being more specific....Paul.
Sorry for not being more specific....Paul.
S3Paulo said:
Sorry..I can't make much out of the photo but it certainly looks like the mount that i purchased from tvrcarparts. I didn't fit it either my local indie did the job...it did reduce my gear box shake and hence gear lever wobble. There is only one mount for the gear box ...so i was told.
Sorry for not being more specific....Paul.
But that's a great starting point guys. I'll take a look under the car at the weekend. Sadly no TVR Heaven as a result tho Sorry for not being more specific....Paul.
Many Thanks,
WG
I had a gear lever rattle some years ago - not the large movement sort but just an annoying rattle - we took off the transmission tunnel top and then took the gear lever out of the top of the box. The lever sits in a sort of saddle - quite small and from memory made from some black plastic/nylon - this didn't appear to be worn but I got another from a local gearbox specialist (seem to think it was 10p or something silly) and dropped it in - job fixed so worth a try. I think the main problem was getting the transmission tunnel back on with the pipes connected - took the radio fitting out but a bit of a fiddle.
Jim
Jim
jimed said:
I had a gear lever rattle some years ago - not the large movement sort but just an annoying rattle - we took off the transmission tunnel top and then took the gear lever out of the top of the box. The lever sits in a sort of saddle - quite small and from memory made from some black plastic/nylon - this didn't appear to be worn but I got another from a local gearbox specialist (seem to think it was 10p or something silly) and dropped it in - job fixed so worth a try. I think the main problem was getting the transmission tunnel back on with the pipes connected - took the radio fitting out but a bit of a fiddle.
Jim
Can you remember, was the rattle speed related or did it happen pretty much all the time ? Thanks for the pointer.Jim
It was some time ago but I think it happened most of the time although it got worse at higher revs changing from a slight buzz at above tickover to a real loud buzzing/rattle - it could have been quite low in terms of volume at low revs but not sure - hand on gear lever I think quietened it. (The problem did start very quickly though - ie it wasn't there one day and the next it was - no build up but it may have got worse if I'd left it to???) Hope that helps.
Jim
Jim
Have thought for a while that the S3 has a bit of vibration at speed, consquently the gear stick has wobbled, fair enough. had all four wheels balanced and the vibrations have lessened, the gear stick still wobbling with an annoying squeak
. During a morning test drive, following the flow of traffic the gear stick suddenly became manic and bounced out of gear 
, about 3.5K revs, oil pressure good, temp fine, petrol dropping at normal rate, 13V, 0810am, revs nearing 6K, breath, indicate, remove foot from A pedal, two lane changes later, I could select all gears and once again picked up the flow, in leaving the three laned road it became apparent that the normal engine note was intersetingly deeper and much louder along with the consequential lack of uumff in the lower gears. after parking up and allowing the exhaust to cool off it appears the shock has been enough to crack the weld that is at the bottom of the cone of the nearside manifold as it transforms three to one . the car is on its stands as I investigate the weld or replace question, but as the gear stick wobble may be a symptom i am also invesigating the gear box mounts, diff, prop etc. be very interested in what you find wonkygibbon. will be attending the s club to check out the trade stands and engine bays, just not in the S 
, i'll be parking the daily drive suitable distance away.
. During a morning test drive, following the flow of traffic the gear stick suddenly became manic and bounced out of gear , about 3.5K revs, oil pressure good, temp fine, petrol dropping at normal rate, 13V, 0810am, revs nearing 6K, breath, indicate, remove foot from A pedal, two lane changes later, I could select all gears and once again picked up the flow, in leaving the three laned road it became apparent that the normal engine note was intersetingly deeper and much louder along with the consequential lack of uumff in the lower gears. after parking up and allowing the exhaust to cool off it appears the shock has been enough to crack the weld that is at the bottom of the cone of the nearside manifold as it transforms three to one . the car is on its stands as I investigate the weld or replace question, but as the gear stick wobble may be a symptom i am also invesigating the gear box mounts, diff, prop etc. be very interested in what you find wonkygibbon. will be attending the s club to check out the trade stands and engine bays, just not in the S , i'll be parking the daily drive suitable distance away.bil said:
... but as the gear stick wobble may be a symptom i am also invesigating the gear box mounts, diff, prop etc. be very interested in what you find wonkygibbon.
Hi There,Will certainly get back to you in due course - unfortunately it wont be for a while as I sustained a fractured shoulder last week and thus can't drive the S let alone get under it.
btw: Hope S Club was good.
Cheers,
WG
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