Hi, I have a 55 reg stilo shumacher. I have recently had issies where I can't get reverse anymore. The gear stick just won't go in. One thing Ive just found is that it goes in to reserve in the morning, presumable the cold or the length of time since last drove. But as soon as iv drove it a bit, againnot reverse. Thinking the selector at first, but I can't seem to figure out the cold morning aspect.

Any help is hugely appreciated many thank

The oil will be thicker when cold which will aggravate any stubbornness. Could be worn bushes somewhere in the shift mechanism. What type of selector mechanism does it use.
Even my Selespeed sometimes takes a couple of attempts to get reverse on a cold morning.

What do you mean by type sorry? It doesn't go in as soon as Drive it, same happens this morning gears all fine when cold then drive for 5/10 mins then can't get reverse :/

By type I mean there are various mechanisms. Rods, cable or hydraulic.
The selespeed has its robot.

Cables

As a quick/cheap check, I would try bleeding the clutch. If Schumi has an external slave cylinder I would also have a look at that, for any signs of a leak.

It may be that the clutch slave seals are worn and so the clutch is not disengaging enough for it to select reverse. First thing in the morning could work better because the beast has been inactive all night and the seals (in the slave) will have had a chance to recover, so you get a better movement/more fluid pushed through when you press the pedal.

Are the other gears okay or are they a bit sticky too? A problem with the slave cylinder would affect all gears.. particularly the lower ratio ones (1st-2nd).


Ralf S.

If only affecting reverse have a look at the gear lever inside the car. It can only take a small amount of wear in a bush or pivot to cause trouble. If you can get access to selector on gearbox at the same time you can see if it is moving it enough. (you will need help)

Having gone through a nightmare saga with mine.....my money is that it is a slave/ hydrolic issue you've got, rather than mechanical....I ended up having to go through a process of elimination, which for me, ended up being 'worse case scenario' with the internal (there are two, external and internal) slave needing replacement, but hopefully you'll get away with the external slave simply needing bled and refilled with new fluid. If this doesn't work, then they will replace for a new external slave, which in most cases should work.....if your as unlucky as me, and it is still doing it after the first two steps, then sadly it indicates that the internal slave is fooked and needs replacing, which is a mahoosively big and expensive job as engine needs dropping, gearbox, clutch out. Because this job is so extreme, it is recommended (by other owners/ forums etc) that you go for water pump and new clutch at the same time as it is all taken apart and best to do all at once rather than risk having to do again! I went for the whole shebang and it cost me over 1k. Schummy was like a new car after it all, but it was about 6 months of hassle, grief and serious money to get there.
As has been said the fact that it is good to start with, and then gets worse throughout a journey, is defo an indication that there is a leak through seals which recovers when standing still again. My issue started off exactly like this but my issue was getting first, and over several months just got worse until I was eventually stranded with no clutch to get anything....to a garage it went!
My advice would be to initially flush, refill and bleed the system with new fluid, either yourself or garage. If this fails, replace the external slave before going onto the more difficult expensive stuff....

Fiat Stilo Schumacher GEARBOX

Hi,

Cars been in to fiat, and have been told the problem is the Gear Selector shaft and needs replacing, is this easy to do? have change clutch my self and other thnings in past or is it easier to get a new gear box?

Thanks Aidan