Technical Car isn’t going into gear

[Carcurious]

My fiat punto evo 2010 was struggling to to go into gear and now it’s got worse where I can barely go into any gear at all. Could this be anything to do with clutch fluid? I would rather try and look before I take it to a garage and spend. If so, how would I change it? This is my first time with a Fiat so I’m fairly clueless.

 

[ceecff]

Engine? Check if any difference when going into gears with engine running at idle vs engine off. If engine on it's difficult and off all gears work easy it could be hydraulic thing or clutch itself.

 

[rmjbn1]

As above
If it's difficult to engage gears with engine off I would suspect gear cables

If it only struggles with the engine running I would suspect air in the clutch hydraulics.

How's the clutch fluid level?

I would bleed the clutch, see if it improves (if fluid is more than 2 years old or looking cloudy it needs changing).

I think this shows the bleeding process well:

 

[Carcurious]

Engine? Check if any difference when going into gears with engine running at idle vs engine off. If engine on it's difficult and off all gears work easy it could be hydraulic thing or clutch itself.

With engine off it goes into gears perfectly

 

[ZaphodB]

If you hear gears crunching when trying to select reverse (usually no synchromesh) and your foot fully down, the clutch is still partially engaged , as said most likely down to the system needing bleeding ... at least that's what you need to do first then see what's what

 

[ceecff]

With engine off it goes into gears perfectly

If slave pump is external in your gearbox (little cylinder pressing clutch arm fork) you can see how it's moving when pedal clutch is pressed, it should move aprox 1,5 or 2cm, if less or not moving it's fluid or slave/master pump issue. If moving partially it could be same or clutch itself.

 

[Carcurious]

If you hear gears crunching when trying to select reverse (usually no synchromesh) and your foot fully down, the clutch is still partially engaged , as said most likely down to the system needing bleeding ... at least that's what you need to do first then see what's what

It always crunched in reverse from when I first got the car. Month later now I can’t get into no gears unless the engine is off

 

[Carcurious]

If you hear gears crunching when trying to select reverse (usually no synchromesh) and your foot fully down, the clutch is still partially engaged , as said most likely down to the system needing bleeding ... at least that's what you need to do first then see what's what

Which system needs bleeding? Sorry I’m not very good with cars ?

 

[ZaphodB]

It always crunched in reverse from when I first got the car. Month later now I can’t get into no gears unless the engine is off

Then it was already on its way , this kind of fault will usually gradually appear

Which system needs bleeding? Sorry I’m not very good with cars ?

The clutch hydraulic system.

If you're not mechanically minded ,I'd suggest search for a mobile mechanic, and ask for prices before you book him/her

 

[Carcurious]

Then it was already on its way , this kind of fault will usually gradually appear



The clutch hydraulic system.

If you're not mechanically minded ,I'd suggest search for a mobile mechanic, and ask for prices before you book him/her

Disappear? It’s gonna cost hundreds to get it fixed

 

[ZaphodB]

Disappear? It’s gonna cost hundreds to get it fixed

Think positive !!

The bleed is the first thing to confirm before you can rule out other stuff.

A clutch bleed should be well under £100

 

[Carcurious]

Think positive !!

The bleed is the first thing to confirm before you can rule out other stuff.

A clutch bleed should be well under £100

What will they do after a bleed ?

 

[ZaphodB]

What will they do after a bleed ?

Let them do the bleed first , could be a clutch slave, clutch master , or an element of the clutch mechanism itself.

There's absolutely no point in trying to 2nd guess the outcome, you could well be all sorted with just a bleed !