Hi guys,

Not sure if there is a thread about this already as I'm new to the forum (sorry).. But I have a 2009 Fiat 500 Sport and now and again especially when I am at traffic lights, I find that I am unable to get it into first gear. It takes a few attempts and it does get in eventually but why could it be doing this? It doesn't happen every day, only intermittently All other gears are fine, just seems to be first that causes the issue.

Sounds like clutch release problem. I had it on a Ford Sierra (years ago)
Try engaging a different gear and then going into first.. No a fix but it stops the gears spinning.

Thanks for your reply. Do you think that would be difficult or expensive to fix?

You may not have a problem at all, it happens to me occasionally whatever I drive. If you leave the car in neutral, release the clutch and then depress it again you should find it goes into first okay.

If its only occasional it's prob ok.
If its a regular thing it needs fixing as a dragging clutch will eventually cause undue wear on Syncro's of other gears.
The fix could mean new clutch/release bearing. Not sure of the price.

Since your car is a few years old now and has a hydraulic clutch, I would recommend that you get the combined clutch and brake fluid changed, it should be a long-term service item anyway.

That should make sure that the hydraulic operation of the clutch is as good as it should be, this could fix your problem.

i have no trouble selecting first gear but sometimes reverse is is tricky in both the panda and the 500 but i'm not planning on any high speed j turns

That's probably because there isn't a synchromesh on reverse. Without getting too technical a synchromesh synchronises the meshing of the gears, allowing smoother changes between the gears. As people tend to be stationary when selecting reverse manufacturers tend not to fit it, hence it the gears aren't always aligned and selecting reverse is sometimes a bit difficult.

I think your right about being stationary when selecting reverse I tend to struggle more when reversing of our drive

It happened again today. Went to put car into first and it would not go in. Had to put it in second and try again into first. It's stiff getting into other gears too now though.. Not very effortless.

Sounds to me like the clutch is not full releasing, so the gears are still spinning too fast for the syncro cones to mesh the gears together. Do not delay in getting it looked at / fixed as you will cause undue excessive wear on the syncro cones which will adversely affect the gear change longer term.
I had a similar prob on a car done yrs ago.

The Twins said:

Sounds to me like the clutch is not full releasing, so the gears are still spinning too fast for the syncro cones to mesh the gears together. Do not delay in getting it looked at / fixed as you will cause undue excessive wear on the syncro cones which will adversely affect the gear change longer term.
I had a similar prob on a car done yrs ago.

Click to expand...

:yeahthat:

You have a clutch problem. quite likely with the hydraulic actuating mechanism. If you drive the car like this for any length of time you will wear out the synchromesh cones in the gearbox. Replacing the cones requires the gearbox to be removed & stripped down (many garages would just replace the gearbox, which will be well into four figures) and will cost much more than sorting out the problem now.

So much for my powers of positive thinking, it does look like you have a clutch problem, like the other guys have said.
Experience has taught me not to be an optimist, I just can't help myself, I always look on the bright side then end up disappointed when things go wrong. Perhaps I should be really negative then things can only get better!
Good luck, I hope you get it fixed soon and at minimal expense.
You never know, it might just need bleeding. Oh no, there I go being optimistic again!

Can I just be very direct? The twins gave you some GREAT advice 2 weeks ago now, DO NOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR OF YOU WILL PROPERLY **** THE GEARBOX OVER. TAKE IT IN TOMORROW AND GET IT SORTED OR ELSE YOU WILL BE FACING A BILL FOR MANY TIMES THE PRICE OF GETTING THE CLUTCH SORTED. DO NOT EXPECT ANY SYMPATHY WHEN YOU POST IN A WEEK OR A MONTH OR A YEAR BECAUSE YOUR GEARBOX IS ****ED.