trouble with gear selection

[kagey]

had trouble this morning getting first gear - engine warm. the had trouble going from 5th down to 4th. gear lever felt very stiff. what could this be pls?
is it safe to drive still?
as i commute the 30 miles to and from london every day.

[eharding]

Is there any vertical play in the gearstick? - mine came loose in this fashion, and unless it was moved to the right height it became inmpossible to select reverse. Back to the dealer to get it fixed.

[Raskol]

And I thought I was the only one who had experienced this! In my case, the problem started as a stiffness going into 1st gear and has developed within 48 hours into near-impossible gear selection. Although fluid levels are OK, it is almost certainly a clutch which is failing to disengage properly. I'll find out tomorrow after Fernhurst have had a good look at it.

You might want to check the level in your brake/clutch fluid reservoir and, if it's low (a possible cause of the symptoms), top it up and investigate the fluid loss (defective seal?).

[MB.]

If the fluid level is low you will (should) get the brake light coming on - had this when I was losing fluid, but never had any gear selection problems

And the system is designed so that the clutch takes fluid from high up the tank and the brakes low down, so you will lose the clutch well before you lose the brakes - in case you were wondering!

MB.

[jedi]

hmmmm, mine did a similar thing, then lost ability to move from 4th to 5th entirely...... tvr replaced whole gearbox.

Phone TVR or the warranty company.

[kagey]

i checked all the levels and all seems ok. funny thing is ive driven it since and i hasnt happened again but i think for peace of mind i'll get my local dealer to have a quick look.

[smifffy]

Check your warranty before phoning the waranty company, 'cos when I had a policy with warranty holding the unit had to fail completely before they would replace it. Having difficulty changing gear won't wash with them, and if you then drive it around until it fails, they will say you didn't have the problem rectified

[GO TVR]

We had problems with our gearbox about 6 months ago - our problem was trying to get into reverse. Took it back to dealer who fixed it in no time. Dealer said the lever had come out of alignment. So far this has been our only problem and the car is a year old now.

[ajvmoore]

I've always had a little difficulty getting into first, it has got no worse over the 23000 miles I've travelled - worst time is first thing in the morning, especially if its cold, so I leave it in first and start up with the clutch depressed - which is a good idea anyway. Other times, I try dropping into first just as I'm still rolling to a stop - at junctions etc. If stationery, then selecting third then first helps.

[Raskol]

My problem has turned out to be a total clutch failure, necessitating a new unit at £575 plus fitting plus VAT. Hardly very satisfactory at only 24,000 miles!

And before anyone points the finger at my driving style, the linings are fine - it's the actuating mechanism which has failed catastrophically. In 35 years I've only ever had to replace one other clutch and that was at over 65,000 miles in an MGC.

[blackmonday]

quote:
... I leave it in first and start up with the clutch depressed - which is a good idea anyway.

Why is this a good idea? Just curious. I often do this but never thought of the consequences, good or bad.

[MB.]

With the clutch pedal pressed you are removing the connection between engine and gearbox so there is less strain on the starter as thereis less to turn over (only marginally but may be enough, with a badly charged battery, to not turn over). Also if you have left it in gear then pressing the clutch will stop you jumping forwards (or backwards)

MB.

[MB.]

Of course the down side is that oyu are wearing off a little bit more clutch liner

MB.

[vindaloo]

My cluch failed after 5k !!!!! cost £800+ and not covered as car is over 2yrs and WGH told me where to go.

[anonymous-user]

quote:
My cluch failed after 5k !!!!! cost £800+ and not covered as car is over 2yrs and WGH told me where to go.

Me too ... (see thread on TVR General Gossip forum from last week - "Cerbera clutch gone in 8 months ! " )