Technical Can't engage reverse

[fredpanda]

2009 Eco Active. 130,000 miles, new clutch at 100,000. Gear lever becoming very 'sticky' - biggest problem not being able to engage reverse without excessive force. Other gears quite tricky to engage. Solution was to replace the clutch operating cables. £200 parts, £240 labour and £80 vat. Well, cheaper than a new gearbox! All good now.

 

[koalar]

I suspect you mean gear selector cables

As UK car has hydraulic clutch

Very common

Fiat issued a bulletin on this, the PTFE lining wears out

However £240 labour sounds a little steep for an hour's job

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all versions 2125 1 261 L F GEAR ENGAGEMENT/SELECTION CABLES Seizing, hardening - Service Solution FAULT COMPLAINED OF​ Difficult or impossible to engage all the gears TECHNICAL CAUSE​ Seizing of the gear engagement cable due to the deterioration of the (PTF) tube inside the outer casing that guides the steel cable. OPERATIONS IN PRODUCTION​ Fitting of engage engagement/selection cables that conform guaranteed. IPLEMENTATION OF MODIFICATION​ Version Factory Line Chassis No. Organization No. all versions in question Tichy - 554771 267630 OPERATIONS IN NETWORK​ NETWORK BEHAVIOUR STANDARDS TOWARDS THE CUSTOMER​ If this problem is reported and confirmed, reassure the Customer that it can be solved by replacing the gear engagement/selection cables. After the operation show the Customer what has been done and carry out a test to make sure they are satisfied. SERVICE SOLUTION​ Only for vehicles in the batch of chassis from 175913 to 554770, check that the problem reported is due to the gear engagement/selection cables and, if necessary, replace them following the Operating Cycle below. OPERATION CYCLE​ Before replcing the gear engagement/selection cables, check that the hardening of the gear control cable in all gears is confirmed proceeding as described below: A) release the cables on the gearbox side (see Service Manual Op 2125C30) and check that the fault is still present using the gear lever in the passenger compartment. If after having carried out point A) the fault is no longer present, then the cause of the problem should be sought in the gearbox unit and internal controls. B) release the cables on the passenger compartment side (see Service Manual Op 2125C30) and check that the lever in the passenger compartment moves freely for both engagement and selection. If the fault is still present after having carried out point B), carry out a thorough fault diagnosis for the passenger compartment inner control mounting replacing it if a problem is found. C) Replace the gear engagement/selection cables (1 - Fig. 1) with new ones from the Parts Dept. completing the operations already partly carried out in points A and B (refer to the Service Manual - Op 2125C30). Fig. 1 AVALABILITY OF PARTS​ Version Description Part No. Qty. all petrol versions in question Gear selection/engagement cables 55202310 1 all diesel versions in question Gear selection/engagement cables 55234084 1 CLAIM REPORT DATA​ Version Operation Piece Fault Position Time allowance all versions in question 2125126 1 LF - .95

 

[fredpanda]

Thanks, the Forum Q and A's were really helpful to me to advise garage about selector cables. I challenged the hours but they stuck to it and said it took 3 hours @ £80/HR. Bet they don't pay the mechanics that much!!