Hello,

I wonder if anyone with a bit more experience than me can shed some light on a gear change problem I'm having.

It's difficult to get it into first gear. I can push the stick forward but it's as though something is stopping it slotting in. Normally I just wobble the stick around, give it some revs and lift the clutch a little and it'll eventually find its way in (one or all of the things I try may be my imagination if it helps. It's more of a panic and I fiddle with everything I can think of because I'm at a junction or something). Second gear is a bit stiff, but nowhere near as bad. The other forward gears are fine, if a little agricultural.

The reverse gear is a nightmare to get in. I can usually get it in if I wrench it with both hands on the gearstick. Today I held up traffic because this method didn't work, half way through a 3 point turn. No amount of revving or wiggling seemed to help.

It doesn't make any terrible noises when it does go in. The all come out easily enough.

The catch is that when I turn the engine off, I can change into all gears fine. I'm not sure if this means the problem is related to the gears moving, or simply vibrations affecting a loose coupling.

It's an 04 defender 90, td5.

Has anyone seen this before? Any suggestions?

Thank for any help!

sounds release bearing related or clutch issues impending ,i have a 300 tdi,basically the same gear box as yours but they dont inter fit,gear change is easy,it should be smooth and not difficult

Does seem like clutch release problems,not enough fluid in system or clutch release bearing on the way out or clutch fork partly gone.

The R380 seems to be very reluctant to go into gear if there is any drive at all getting through from the engine. This is good in some ways as it makes it hard to grind the gears. Maybe (as above) it's an early sign that the clutch needs attention. The R380s all have personalities of their own and I've noticed my friend's is much smoother and easier to put into gear than mine.

When was the last time that the gearboxes were flushed and the oils changed?

She's 11 years old and could probably do with it

Start with the simple things

Oldseadog said:

When was the last time that the gearboxes were flushed and the oils changed?

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good question. I've owned it a month, it could have been 11 years ago and 150,000 miles for all I know.

Brown said:

The R380 seems to be very reluctant to go into gear if there is any drive at all getting through from the engine.

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Now you mention it, I've heard a bit of grinding a couple of times when going into reverse.


There's plenty of clutch fluid and doesn't seem to be much slack in the pedal. It sounds like I might have a big job on the way!!

Thanks for your help.