hi my brava has given up ghost somewhat only finding 3rd gear and nothing else managed to limp home in it but not sure what to do or whats gone clutch gearbox or linkage
hope you clever lot can help
thanks
scott

checkl brake fluid level, if its dropped then problem is leaking slave cylinder or master cylinder.

if you can select gears fine when engine off but not when engine on, and clutch hydraulics are not leaking, then clutch is problem (unless issue only afected 1 gear in which case it would be gearbox synchromesh).

if you cant select gears with engine off then linkages are most likely

hi brake fluid is v low and when i have been driving handbrake light has been coming on gearstick feels very loose when engine off sort off floating about but lets you select gears how will i know if its the slave rather than the master cylinder
thanks
scott

slave is on top of gearbox, look under battery to see if its leaking. its a very common problem so i expect it will be that. a new slave cylinder costs under £30 and is easy to fit.

Yeah, low "brake fluid" (really brake and clutch fluid) and flickering "handbrake" light are classic symptoms of a clutch cylinder leak and consequent dodgy clutch / gearbox operation.

Like Jug says, clutch slave cylinder is odds-on culprit and easy to find and fix.

new slave cylinder didnt make a difference old one was wrecked though fell apart in hand gear stick very loose/floating about still only finding 3rd gear help and advice very welcome before i give up and send it to the brava factory in the sky
thanks
scott

while you were at the slave cylinder, did you check all the gear linkages and cables for proper operation while moving the gearstick ?. A floppy gearstick sounds like a problem here.. if its only just working with the engine off it won't work properly on the road..

its got to be the selectors. it isnt unusual to pop a selector off when trying to force it in gear when a slave cylinder leak occurs (another common issue is damaging gearbox synchromesh when trying to force it in gear, so fingers crossed that hasnt happened).

the linkages 'pop' on using ball joints, they are pretty easy to disengage by hand, and equally easy to pop off when the slave cylinder fails and you try to force it in gear.

remove battery and battery tray, then you can see the linkages, get someone to move the gearstick while you watch. the attached diagram will help.