HI, I've been having an intermittent problem (on and off for 4 months) selecting 4th gear. I lose the gear and then, a few days later its back. The other gears all select sweetly and there is no crunching or grinding when 4ths not there its just not there! Any suggestions. Garage has suggested a gearbox rebuild but spotted forum replies to a similar problem on a multipla just suggesting topping up the gear box oil.

Don't really fancy an uneccessary re-build but need to get sorted before I two my caravan to france!

Cheers

emc

When you say you loose it, does the lever move into the 4th gear position and then no drive or does it baulk and not let the lever into that position.
One option short of delving into the gearbox, are inspecting the linkages, making sure all the ball joints are seated properly. Is it a high mileage?

I drove without using fourth for many many miles before my first gearbox rebuild.
Before my second gearbox rebuild I sometimes had to fight it into fourth but other times it was okay. Turned out it was only engaging half the sprocket width though, started to drop out even under load and then finally took all the teeth off :slayer:
I lost fourth but carried on driving, then lost third some time later then finally fifth vanished whilst miles from home on the M1. Had to limp home on 'A' roads pulling over now and then like a tractor! It sometimes jammed completely when in reverse too.

Occasionally now struggle to get fourth again will scrap the van if it fails.

I wouldn't worry about your trip to France though, you've got miles left in it
My other Doblo had issues going in and out of fourth a couple of years back but we tweaked the cables and it's currently heading for 190K and not yet died. Yet.