Why are my gears so stiff?

[TpdNotts]

Firstly, forgive me if I have posted this in the wrong section. Own a Mazda 626 Estate 2.0D and couldnt find the 'all things Mazda' section so I've posted here. Have had abit of difficulty with changing gear for the past year or so but never bad enough to warrant investigation. However over the past couple of months it's got much worse. Trying to get first gear is akin to pushing a lorry uphill with one finger.. Have checked clutch-gear fluid and basically, as I know very little about the workings of cars, just wanted to ask if anyone knows what it MAY be before I take it to the garage and they explain what it is/could be in such technical garb that I've got as much chance of understanding if they told me in Arabic. I know it's impossible to say what it is without looking but some possibilities would be appreciated. Feel a prat going into the garage, as a female, and sounding dim (which I am about cars I fear).

Thanks in anticipation of your helpful replies..

[lord summerisle]

if it is anything like the stiff gearchange in my mazda and saab -

i believe it is the oil in the shifter turret needs changing - done it in the MX5 which solved it, making it much nicer and smoother. not yet done it in the saab.

[TpdNotts]

lord summerisle said:

if it is anything like the stiff gearchange in my mazda and saab -

i believe it is the oil in the shifter turret needs changing - done it in the MX5 which solved it, making it much nicer and smoother. not yet done it in the saab.

What would be required to check to see if it is this? Would it be a case of 'we need to strip it down and check' at 3hrs labour? or is it something that would be simpler to check?

[lord summerisle]

pass... its easy on the 5 as the turret is right under gear stick - its a case of unscrewing the handle off, a few screws, remove the centre console, remove the seals and suck out the old oil with a turkey baster, and replace.

about 90cc of gear oil.

for a fwd car - i dunno, i forget what it says you have to do to change the oil on the gearbox of the Saab.

you can probly do it your self if you can find the required fill and drain holes - get your oil from Opie Oils - they are very helpful when ever i've been in contact.

[TpdNotts]

Thanks for that. One to rule out..

[Boosted LS1]

I'll look at it some time but I command a high price for a 3 minute service.

Boosted.

[DennisTheMenace]

There is no shift turret on a FWD car ,

If its cable operated get the cables checked they may be corroding up and making it stiff also check the stick itself lift the gaiter round the stick and make sure its nice and greased up , if all else fails get the fluid levels in the g/box checked , they are supposed to be sealed for life but it wont harm changing it .

[Andy_sx]

not all gearboxes are sealed for life

i would say firstly look at getting the gear box oil changed, say £30 roughly at a garage and half hour max

if the problem persists then my next place to look would be the linkages, it will be either cable or rod driven and may need the selectors cleaning and greasing, or the guides, be it at the gear stick end or the gear box / bulk head end

[TpdNotts]

Thanks for all of the above. At least now I have some idea of what to expect.