Technical Cannot select gear when engine is hot

[Dazza44]

I hope someone can help. I have searched the forum but cannot see any problem quite the same.

I have had an 01 Multipla 1.9 JTD for 4 months. We have had no mechanical problems until now. I drove it up to Dublin two days ago in fifth gear doing 120 KPH for around two hours. When I left the motorway and came to an island I tried to change into a lower gear. It came out of fifth but it wouldn't go into any other gear. I managed to coast to the side of the road.

I called rescue and at this point I could get it into third and so off the road. The mechanic got to it over an hour later (I had gone on by taxi) and by then the car was cool and everyhting worked fine. I got it towed down to Cork yesterday in case. My mechanic here drove it around for the day today without problems.

Has anyone had the same problem and found a solution. My mechanic says taking the gearbox out will be very expensive so don't go on any long trips. I would like the possibility of going somewhere other than local.

Ideas greatly appreciated.

 

[kentishbloke]

I had a similar, slightly milder version of the problem a couple of weeks ago, after getting stuck on the dartford crossing for an hour or so. Did you notice if the clutch pedal seemed lower than usual? What happened with mine was that the clutch/brake fluid is getting a bit old, and the heat caused it to boil and get gas bubbles. result: over an inch of free play at the clutch pedal and the clutch not disengaging properly. Mine has been absolutely fine since, once it had taken a day to cool down.

 

[Dazza44]

Thank you Kentishbloke. My mechanic asked me about the clutch (he's a great mechanic) but I can't say I noticed a problem with the clutch. I hope this is the problem.

The only way to be sure is to do a similar journey but my insurance company will not recover me for the same problem twice. If there aere more people out there who have this experience and can put it down to the same cause as Kentishbloke, then it's a pretty safe bet that I have the same, easily fixable, problem.

Please do let me know.

 

[phillnzo]

i think i've had the same trouble.
been to legoland today and it was really hot. drove back to the hotel fine no problems but when i got to the junction i couln't get the car in 5th or first.
went out later on and could get all the gears but they didn't feel like they were fully engaged.it felt like neutral had moved up and they gear lever couldn't go high enough to get the gear. hope it was just the weather i've got a 120 mile trip tomorrow.