Golf mk2 gti - difficulty getting gears

[dern]

I'm having problems selecting 1st and 2nd gears in my 16v golf. The problem is worse when the gearbox has warmed up. I get no crunching or anything like that, the gear just doesn't seem to want to go in. It makes no difference at all whether the engine is running or not. I can make it go in 1st more easily by selecting 3rd and then either 2nd or just going straight into 1st. Clutch is quite new and biting point if roughly half way down the pedal travel. I get no abnormal gearbox noises at all just the reluctance to go in the gate position.

Any known problems on these gearboxes that anyone has had and resolved?

Thanks,

Mark

[nel]

I think the synchromesh is a bit of a weak link on these boxes - second on my 8V Mk 2 has be engaged very gently and slowly or it graunches. But it's been like that since I bought it 40 kmiles ago, so if this has suddenly started being a problem then it sounds more like the clutch not completely disengaging.

You had a look at the clutch cable and the throwout arm to check that all looks OK and measures up to spec? When I replaced the clutch cable on mine they gave me an auto-adjusting cable - don't know if 16Vs were made without auto-adjusting clutch design.

Final point - have you checked the oil level in the gearbox?

Best of luck.

[Jspesh]

I would suggest searching or posting on www.clubgti.com

Common problem, was starting to happen on my old 8v but I sold it before it got bad

[dern]

Thanks for the ideas. The oil level was fine and the clutch well adjusted. I was getting no syncro type crunching so I checked the linkage. What was happening was that if I pushed the gear lever all the way to the left it wasn't pushing the gearbox selector all the way to the left so it wouldn't go in unless you ttted it and then it would occasionally drop in. You can adjust this so now it'll go into 1st and 2nd easily again. Sadly the downside is that it now won't go into 5th but at least I can get to work and back and can order the gearstick bush which looks like it'll solve the problem for me.

Regards,

Mark