Sticky/heavy gearbox all of a sudden!
Discussion
Hey.
My other half 56 reg MINI has been with our local MINI dealer for the past 3 months. It had a thermostat [housing] issue and due to the part being on back order, so they said, they gave her a hire car until the part came in. We didn't expect it to be 3 months but as I tore my ACL a few months ago, it's been very handy having a 4 door BMW as appose to a 3 door MINI so I could be chauffeured round in the back [so we haven't really pushed the issue].
Anyway, she finally got the MINI back yesterday, heating is working fine but wouldn't you know, it's now got a new problem! The gearbox is noticeably stiffer than when she dropped it off at MINI before Xmas - moving it right to left in natural is an effort and getting it from second to third and fifth to fourth isn't as smooth as it was or should be.
My worry is that leaving it pretty much still for over 3 months has effected something [I believe them when they said it hasn't been used by anyone while in their care and the mileage and fuel level back this up]. Could this be the case? What could cause a gearbox to suddenly struggle to find a gear and the stick to become very heavy etc?
Thanks in advance
My other half 56 reg MINI has been with our local MINI dealer for the past 3 months. It had a thermostat [housing] issue and due to the part being on back order, so they said, they gave her a hire car until the part came in. We didn't expect it to be 3 months but as I tore my ACL a few months ago, it's been very handy having a 4 door BMW as appose to a 3 door MINI so I could be chauffeured round in the back [so we haven't really pushed the issue].
Anyway, she finally got the MINI back yesterday, heating is working fine but wouldn't you know, it's now got a new problem! The gearbox is noticeably stiffer than when she dropped it off at MINI before Xmas - moving it right to left in natural is an effort and getting it from second to third and fifth to fourth isn't as smooth as it was or should be.
My worry is that leaving it pretty much still for over 3 months has effected something [I believe them when they said it hasn't been used by anyone while in their care and the mileage and fuel level back this up]. Could this be the case? What could cause a gearbox to suddenly struggle to find a gear and the stick to become very heavy etc?
Thanks in advance
Edited by BUG4LIFE on Wednesday 6th April 12:58
Could only assume it's because the car's been standing for a fair time? If it's any help, a friend of mine had a 53 plate Cooper, the gearchange on that got progressively stiffer... local BMW / Mini said the gearbox was failing. My trusted mechanic had a look, turned out to be some kind of linkage problem (at the base of the gear lever IIRC). Quick squirt of WD40, job done...
bomma220 said:
Could only assume it's because the car's been standing for a fair time? If it's any help, a friend of mine had a 53 plate Cooper, the gearchange on that got progressively stiffer... local BMW / Mini said the gearbox was failing. My trusted mechanic had a look, turned out to be some kind of linkage problem (at the base of the gear lever IIRC). Quick squirt of WD40, job done...
It's booked in for next Wednesday for them to have a look. They have been really good so I hope it isn't a big issue as I don't want things to get messy!! At the end of the day though, the car has been in their care, it's not our fault the part has taken such a long time to get to them and the last thing we expected/wanted with one issue to be replaced with another. Annoyingly, Mrs BUG4LIFE has two quite work journeys to make before Wednesday, so fingers crossed it's remains useable.I'll bare that in mind thanks mate...I have a trusted mechanic who's been looking after my BMW for 6 years so I'll be taking it to him if I'm not happy come next week.
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