(T) 1st & 2nd gear selection problem

Hi folks,

I have recently replaced the clutch on my Mk1 1.2 Punto and since refitting the transmission, I cannot select 1st or 2nd gears. I can select 3rd, 4th,5th and reverse with no problems.

I've seen a few posts which have this problem, but the symptoms and fixes don't seem to relate to my problem.

The most obvious problem (apart from not being able to select 1st,2nd gears) is that in neutral, the gear stick has huge sideways movement. At rest it sits in the middle of it's possible sideways travel, and it can be moved to the right under spring tension so that it comes back to the middle when you let go of the stick. However, from the middle position, the stick can be moved a few inches to the left so it touches the passenger seat. Even when one of the gears is selected, the stick still has this large movement.

I've looked at the gear selector rod that connects to the top of the gearbox and it seems to be connected to the spindle properly. When the stick is moved all the way to the left the rod is moving the spindle in the gearbox as well, so i'm wondering if this is normal or not. Even if the stick is pushed all the way to the left then forwards as if to select 1st gear, it actually selects 3rd.

The other symptom is there is a light rattling which seems to come from the gearbox occasionally when idling and can be made to rattle when the gear stick is pushed fully to the left or right when in neutral. Not sure if this problem is connected to the gear selection problem though.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be really welcome.

Thanks

Peter

Hello Peter,

did you manage to solve the problem? I'm having the same issue and would grealty appreciate any tips.

Thanks,

Stijn

P.S.: Sorry to bring up an old post but this seems to be a common problem with the punto gearbox.

Sounds to me that it is a Gear Linkage problem, its out of sink. Did you get the clutch done at the garage?? if so Take it back.

I didn't touch the clutch, nor have I removed the gearbox from the car, I just had to do some work on the car and disconnected the solid gearlink. I now have the same problem that the forward-backward motion is correct, but that it doesn't matter if a gear is selected or not, the gear stick still has the same sideway motion as if in neutral.
So I don't think that it has anything to do with the clutch.

Incorrect linkage adjustment ?

Could be, but I don't see what can be adjusted. It is a fixed metal bar that takes care of the left-right movement. What would I have to look at to see where I should adjust the linkage?

Thanks

Is there any means of adjustment at the gear stick end of the cable? maybe there is some form of automatic adjuster that needs to be reset

I've sorted the problem for my car, which may not be the solution for others. However, there's a lesson to be learnt so i'll pass on this tip so others may not make the same mistake.

Basically, my problem was caused by me disconnecting the gear selection rod at the point it connects to the spindle coming out from the gearbox. DO NOT DO THIS! It should be disconnected from the plate that links the selector rod to the gearbox. What had happened was that an internal selector had dropped down in the gearbox, which of course cannot be seen.

Lesson learned!

Peter