Technical 5th gear won't engage at all

[Yennenga]

I'd like to get a bit mechanically self sufficient with my Panda 2013 (not 4x4) cos I want to do the Mongol Rally with it, so ... It seems I now have an opportunity to learn about the transmission. And maybe start building up a toolkit so I can at least investigate stuff and do some fault finding. Thinking ordering spares from somewhere in Siberia would be easier if I knew what I needed .

Today, without any warning (such as slipping, noises, juddering etc.) when I put it in 5th gear , it won't engage and only whines.

The reverse gear is fine (on same shaft?)

How would I start fault finding? On my motorbike I can just take the whole shebam apart .... But I have never worked on a car engine.

I understand how the transmission works ...

If you tell me to buy a Haynes manual I won't feel bad

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Sadly no manual to speak of (although Haynes AutoFix isn’t too bad)

Does the lever feel like it’s gone all the way into position?

If it stopped finding fifth without any previous noises etc, more likely an issue with the selector cables (either at the gear lever in the car or the bits these connect to on the outside of the gearbox. I’ll post a link in a mo to a thread of mine which, although not for the same issue, will show you what these look like at the gearbox end.

Edit: this will take you to a post showing the cables on the outside of the gearbox and the levers they connect to. (You don’t need to remove the pivot that I did - that was for a different issue). This is for a diesel but the basics are the same, on both 2- and 4-wheel drive https://www.fiatforum.com/guides/cure-for-a-stiff-gearlever-multijet-4x4.841/

 

[timmycm850]

sometimes the 5th gears come undone in the end of the gearbox. Before you couldn't get 5th gear did the gear lever move arround more when in 5th. Check the gear oil, if its very silvery its grinding the inside of the 5th gear end cover.

Tim

 

[Yennenga]

I took it to a guy. He manually engaged the linkages (they engage) and said it is definitely the gear that is broken.

I took it to another guy today. Will come back to share answer in case anyone else ever has same problem.

 

[Yennenga]

sometimes the 5th gears come undone in the end of the gearbox. Before you couldn't get 5th gear did the gear lever move arround more when in 5th. Check the gear oil, if its very silvery its grinding the inside of the 5th gear end cover.

Tim

In response to your answer - no. Definitely didn't feel anything weird. I took it to a Fiat specialist today who is going to investigate. Will come back with findings.

I hooooooope it is not gearbox!!! Please AutoGods have mercy!!!!