cant select 1st, 2nd or reverse gear

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hughlin
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:17 am
MGF Register Region: Yorkshire

cant select 1st, 2nd or reverse gear

Post by hughlin » Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:44 pm

Took my '96 F 1.8i in to get a leaky exhaust fixed and the garage told me they couldnt engage gear. it was working OK-ish previously, though sometimes I found i had to fiddle around to change gear, but now I'm only able to engage 3rd, 4th & 5th. With or without the engine running, I cant get 1, 2 and reverse though with engine I can get the top 3.

Since i'm changing out the interior I've stripped the tunnel cover etc and as far as i can see the change mechanism at the stick end is working, if a bit loose, and there isnt anything obvious at that end.

Question is where to look next. Garage is good, but general rather than specialist so if I can point them where to look it may keep costs down!

Any help on this greatly appreciated - as always things go wrong when the sun is out and its sports-car time!

hugh

RSR92
Posts: 320
Joined: Sun Jun 26, 2016 10:39 pm
MGF Register Region: Cotswolds
Model of Car: MGF 1.8MPi MY2000
Location: Tewkesbury

Re: cant select 1st, 2nd or reverse gear

Post by RSR92 » Mon Jul 17, 2017 9:53 pm

Hi Hugh, does the gear stick move more freely one way than the other I.e side to side or front to back? I recently got stuck in first due to a snapped gear cable but my stick went all loose on the side to side movement so if the gearstick is moving as you'd expect I wouldn't know I'm afraid
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hughlin
Posts: 46
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 9:17 am
MGF Register Region: Yorkshire

Re: cant select 1st, 2nd or reverse gear

Post by hughlin » Sat Jul 29, 2017 8:51 pm

its always been a bit like stirring porridge - but no - its not obviously worse in one plane than the other. I suspect a cable - but until the garage gets it on the hoist I dont suppose I'll find out.

And i'm told swapping cables is a pain :-( At least i've cleared the top end and stripped out all the internal trim, so that should save some money!

hugh

User avatar
RobboMC
Posts: 1058
Joined: Wed May 09, 2012 1:36 am
MGF Register Region: Eastern Australia
Model of Car: 1999 Mpi

Re: cant select 1st, 2nd or reverse gear

Post by RobboMC » Mon Jul 31, 2017 3:26 am

There a couple of rose joints and a roll pin at the gearbox end.
Get them to check all of that is tight before assuming a broken cable.

I suggest you replace the bolts and washers at the front end while you have it out.

One of my bolts broke, and now that I have replaced it all ( at the front ) and tightened it up properly the gear change is excellent.

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