General fifth gear just stopped working?

[lottie_]

i have a punto 2000 1.2 8v, which today will no longer let me put the car in 5th. it was working earlier today, and suddenly just stopped. it's fine in all the other gears (inc. reverse), but won't go into 5th when the car is on or switched off.

does anyone have any ideas as to the seriousness of the issue? it's booked into the garage, but i'd like to know if i need to start living off porridge already. thanks in advance!

(i did search the forum, so apologies if this is elsewhere, i just got a lot of threads on fifth gear, the tv show!).

 

[lottie_]

well i just thought i'd update in case it helps someone else later on.

apparently the 5th gear synchromesh had gone. at 20k miles! fiat is proving an expensive hobby.

450gbp for refurbed gearbox, new clutch and labour.