Ford Fiesta, can't get into second?

[KieranSprouse]

Hi guys,

Firstly, I'm new here so if I'm posting in the wrong place let me know and I'll go the right place!

Anyway, a fault (I guess) which developed yesterday on my 2014 Ford Fiesta Ecoboost while doing a 200 mile drive... For some reason, I can't shift down into second. I can shift up from first to second fine, but when I shift down from any other gear it won't let me go into second.

There are no grinds or clonks, it literally just won't let me put it in gear. It's very odd. The only way I can describe it is like this: a lot of cars won't let you go into reverse when you are moving forward. You have to stop and then it will let you go into reverse. It's like that shifting down to second. Never happened before (had the car for a year and half and done 35,000 miles in it). I can shift down into second however, once I go below 10mph or there abouts. It's so odd. When it does allow me to shift down, again are are no grinds or klonks to speak of. When in second it also feels normal.

Sorry about the long post but I've tried to be as descriptive as I can. Hopefully someone can help?

I'm still 200 or so miles from home so may have to just start off in third when it comes to roundabouts for the way home...


Cheers,

Kieran

[LuS1fer]

Possibly a common issue:
https://passionford.com/forum/ford-fiesta/429826-f...

In the meantime, put it into neutral and stop, select 1st, move off and then slot into 2nd etc. Don't knacker your clutch starting in 3rd.

[Alucidnation]

Not sure if double clutching would work these days?

Might be worth a go for now

[stevemiller]

It could be the syncro they are known to have issues. I read through the passion ford thread, I had never heard of this before.

[KieranSprouse]

Thanks for your replies. I will take it to a garage and see what they say - yesterday it seemed to have gotten worse and I was stuck in traffic and it wouldn't even select 1st or 2nd! That was fun. Green Flag came out and told me (well not much) but they hadn't heard of the issue before either and that he didn't think there was a gearbox fault as he could select the gears with the engine off. The biting point on the clutch was lower than he expected (I hadn't noticed) so he thought the clutch may have been on the way out. I will see!

[KieranSprouse]

An update fro anyone with the same issue: it seems the syncro mesh has worn for 2nd gear. The solution is either to double de-clutch which is a technique I'm trying to learn or to fix the issue which would cost upwards of £700. I will try and learn the double de-clutch technique and see how it goes. Thanks for your help.

[stevemiller]

Have a look at second had boxes with warranties.

[KieranSprouse]

Taking it to another garage with a mechanic who knows what he's on about, he thinks it's to do with the gear selector cables and there is no fault with the gearbox or clutch at all. Let's hope that's the case!

[paul-uvfw4]

Hi,

Did you have any cure for the second gear issue, i also have a 2014 ecoboost which has just had the same issue.

Upshift is fine, downshift it will not go into gear, no grinding. I have lubricated the cables with no improvement.

Regards

Paul.

[OAP man]

My wife has a 2016 ford fiesta ecoboost.We have great difficulty some times selecting or moving out 2nd gear. It is very intermittant, it just come and goes whilst driving. You never know when its going to occur. We have replaced the Clutch master cylinder, this has not improved the situation. Does anyone have any ideas?

[stevemiller]

Synchro for 1st & 2nd is my guess with experience.

[James36171]

I have the same problem on my Ford fiesta Ztec S, Ive been to multiple garages and they’ve all said different things, one said I need a new gearbox, the other said a new clutch, I really don’t know what to do, has anyone got any ideas?? Thankyou

[Nat_Walton01]

James36171 said:

I have the same problem on my Ford fiesta Ztec S, Ive been to multiple garages and they’ve all said different things, one said I need a new gearbox, the other said a new clutch, I really don’t know what to do, has anyone got any ideas?? Thankyou

Hi James, did you get a fix for this? Having the same issue. Mechanic has stripped and inspected gearbox and it seems everything is fine! Really frustrating,

[Nat_Walton01]

KieranSprouse said:

Taking it to another garage with a mechanic who knows what he's on about, he thinks it's to do with the gear selector cables and there is no fault with the gearbox or clutch at all. Let's hope that's the case!

Hi Kieran! This was a long time ago.... but can you remember any fix that was found? Desperately searching the web for answers

[quinny100]

The selector mechanisms can fail - the mechanism directly under the gear lever. Stops entering the right tension on the cables as you shift so won’t go into gear or it’ll pop out of gear.

They’re often overlooked as there’s no easy way to test them. Friend had it on his 2019 Focus and I was sure it was the clutch or the synchro from how he described it. He took it into the Ford dealer and had it back fixed same day with a new selector fitted.