Randomly can't select gears

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Freediscoranger

Freediscoranger

Active Member
Posts
744
Location
Cirencester/ west shropshire
As above, I have a 94 300tdi with R380 gear box. It's happened twice to me now where all of a sudden I can't select any gears, feels like there are no gears, just a brick wall trying to select them, then after much anger and trying hard to get gears, all of a sudden I do.

Situation: going up birdlip hill (a long steep dual carriageway hill) went to select 4th and no gears. Couldn't get anything then once I was stationary and panicking managed to get first and limp home.

I'm scared to drive it again until I fix it but have no other vehicle, any suggestions as to what it is?
 
There is a couple of grub screws on the linkage that can come loose ! Take gear knob off and gaiter , take metal cover off check for wear loose parts etc !!
 
Check things roughly in this order
brake/clutch fluid level,
bleed the clutch,
gear box oil level and condition,
operation and condition of gear selector linkages,
general condition of drive train (prop U/Js, diffs etc),
condition and material thickness of clutch friction plate,
operation and condition of clutch fork,

I'm sure others will point out bits I've missed out ;)
 
Freediscoranger said:
As above, I have a 94 300tdi with R380 gear box. It's happened twice to me now where all of a sudden I can't select any gears, feels like there are no gears, just a brick wall trying to select them, then after much anger and trying hard to get gears, all of a sudden I do.

Situation: going up birdlip hill (a long steep dual carriageway hill) went to select 4th and no gears. Couldn't get anything then once I was stationary and panicking managed to get first and limp home.

I'm scared to drive it again until I fix it but have no other vehicle, any suggestions as to what it is?
Click to expand...
what does gear stick feel like at rest is it aligned with 3rd and 4th
 
It feels aligned with 3+4. Props and Uj's etc are all fine, unfortunately I don't have much time to work on it with uni, hoping to give it a go on Sunday, will drop gear box fluid and check condition. Clutch is operating just as it always have, was going to replace this Easter along with engine re build (I have time around then)
 
It wasn't that it was hard, there were just no gears. After abuse (hitting it left and right etc) I got first gear, the clutch still worked perfectly , I haven't inspected bias plate but it doesn't seem to fit normal symptoms.
 
I have had same problem took console and gear knob off to check bias plate couldnt find fault.Some one said there is plastic under that breaks but i didnt check that or linkage.Paid garage £60 or so guid to change gear box oil been ok since any more problems ill check other suggestions
 
Right I dropped oil last night, quite a lot of filings on the magnetic plug but nothing to cause alarm, oil was fairly thick and was dark brown. Oil that went in was thin and light gold (mtf74) drove it around and gear changed were very smooth, unnervingly so really. But it drove fine.

Going to take the centre console out and inspect bias plate etc.
 
Centre console out and everything seems fine and looks like its been done before since all rivets were replaced with screws. Greased linkages and cleaned everything and put back together. Seems to drive like normal now.

Only new thing is second isn't crunching much but is sometimes hard to select
 
I have had a similar problem. Gear selection was all but impossible, gear stick was very loose and I was able to move it around a 100-150mm diameter whilst still in gear. I could find the gears if I was gentle and 'felt' them in. There was no grinding during selection so I knew the clutch was working correctly. The problem started several weeks ago when I was unable to find 1st or second when down changing from 3rd or 4th without first moving the gearstick over toward 5th. I was then able to get the stick across to the 1st or 2nd side of the gate. Two days ago even this failed and finding any gear was down to pure luck.
With the advice of this thread I took central consul out and stripped the top of the gearbox to get at the plastic cup (BUSH SELECTOR YOKE . PART - FTC2203) at the bottom of the gear selector arm in the top of the gearbox. It wasn't there. After fitting a new one the fault has been corrected.
My thanks to the contributors to this thread, your advice helped me cure the fault. Time taken (including the hour getting the cup) 4 hours , cost of parts £14. Job done.
 
garyh said:
I have had a similar problem. Gear selection was all but impossible, gear stick was very loose and I was able to move it around a 100-150mm diameter whilst still in gear. I could find the gears if I was gentle and 'felt' them in. There was no grinding during selection so I knew the clutch was working correctly. The problem started several weeks ago when I was unable to find 1st or second when down changing from 3rd or 4th without first moving the gearstick over toward 5th. I was then able to get the stick across to the 1st or 2nd side of the gate. Two days ago even this failed and finding any gear was down to pure luck.
With the advice of this thread I took central consul out and stripped the top of the gearbox to get at the plastic cup (BUSH SELECTOR YOKE . PART - FTC2203) at the bottom of the gear selector arm in the top of the gearbox. It wasn't there. After fitting a new one the fault has been corrected.
My thanks to the contributors to this thread, your advice helped me cure the fault. Time taken (including the hour getting the cup) 4 hours , cost of parts £14. Job done.
Click to expand...
Nice one. Another happy ending:)
 
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