Technical 1994 Uno Diesel 1.7 gearbox problem (linkage?)

[alexGS]

hi alex, this is mac from the philippines. i have a 1994 fiat uno 1.7 diesel and im having problems with the transmission. first, the gears are sloppy and you cant easily find the 4th and 5th gear easily, and the stick doesnt spring back to the center.
now, the stick got stuck at 3rd gear and i cant move it anymore even if the engine is not running anymore.
what do you think is the problem sir?

I received the above in my Inbox - can't see a thread in the forum, so here it is!

Please don't private-message me for general technical enquiries that would be best asked on the forum. I don't mind if you feel the need to send a 'reminder' to go and look at a thread. In the last two weeks I haven't checked in very often - sorry

As for the problem - I'm not sure. I don't know which gearbox a 1994 Uno Diesel in the Phillipines would have. If it has a standard-style (original Uno) gearbox, then you would check the gear lever mounting clevis (halfway up the lever) and insert washers to prevent the lever wobbling side-to-side. Next check the vertical rod at the back of the gearbox to see if the nut (usually welded-on) has worked loose. Then you would check the pushed-on plastic balljoint bushes at the front end of the two rods underneath.

But if it's a later-type gearbox then it could be either of two very different types and to be honest, I don't know what linkage faults are possible.

-Alex