Technical Gear issue

[LyndonEdwards]

Hi All. Hope everyone is well. My wife just called me and said that her 2013 Panda 4x4 wont go into first or second gear. When you try, it goes into 3rd or 4th. It engages all other gears fine and drives well once you get going. Could this be a linkage issue? Cheers

 

[UKRMedic]

Hi All. Hope everyone is well. My wife just called me and said that her 2013 Panda 4x4 wont go into first or second gear. When you try, it goes into 3rd or 4th. It engages all other gears fine and drives well once you get going. Could this be a linkage issue? Cheers

We had this issue with a Doblo. The RAC guy identified it as a linkage issue and repaired it with with some kind of makeshift connector.

Sorry to be so vague, but, it points in the same direction as your thoughts.

 

[LyndonEdwards]

We had this issue with a Doblo. The RAC guy identified it as a linkage issue and repaired it with with some kind of makeshift connector.

Sorry to be so vague, but, it points in the same direction as your thoughts.

Excellent. Thanks for that. Appreciated. I shall have a look tonight when i get home

 

[UKRMedic]

Keep us updated, and welcome to the Forum!

 

[LyndonEdwards]

Very oddly indeed, when i looked at it, all connections in place but, as my wife said, it wouldn't go into first or second. I waggled the stick around quite forcefully and it then went in no problem and has been fine since??? Is it possible a stone or something might have got stuck in the mechanism and its now resolved itself?? Very odd.

 

[UKRMedic]

Very oddly indeed, when i looked at it, all connections in place but, as my wife said, it wouldn't go into first or second. I waggled the stick around quite forcefully and it then went in no problem and has been fine since??? Is it possible a stone or something might have got stuck in the mechanism and its now resolved itself?? Very odd.

So, I deduce from this, the problem is the wife.
I suggest a complete replacement. It's clearly an age related issue.




Joking!

 

[LyndonEdwards]

So, I deduce from this, the problem is the wife.
I suggest a complete replacement. It's clearly an age related issue.




Joking!

Hahahaha. I tried that approach, and she pulled a right face. To be fair, it wouldnt go into first or second until i manhandled it around and something seemed to give and now its fine. Almost like something was stuck somewhere or stuck in the mechanism and moving it around freed it up.

 

[Panda IIs]

Hahahaha. I tried that approach, and she pulled a right face. To be fair, it wouldnt go into first or second until i manhandled it around and something seemed to give and now its fine. Almost like something was stuck somewhere or stuck in the mechanism and moving it around freed it up.

There is a bushing on top of the gearbox (I think a thread by @Herts Hillhopper ) which can corrode and I guess ultimately seize. Maybe have a look around using the search facility on here? It may not be relevant to the problem you describe.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

There is a bushing on top of the gearbox (I think a thread by @Herts Hillhopper ) which can corrode and I guess ultimately seize. Maybe have a look around using the search facility on here? It may not be relevant to the problem you describe.

Although the bush corroding wouldn’t cause that issue (it just makes it stiff to move the lever left-to-right across the ‘gate’,) do look at that post as it is entirely possible a stone or similar got caught in the little arm that moves up and down around that pivot - and down selects 1st and second.
The post is here https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/gear-change-cables.489785/post-4619583
Look at the third photo - behind the spanner, and in line with it is a small arm heading off into a rubber cover. Anything caught under that arm would stop you reaching 1st and 2nd