General Gear shifting problem

[crumbtoasty]

Heya,

It’s been a while since I’ve last posted. Following getting my ‘95 colour running it subsequently required a new head gasket and catalytic converter but Finally it’s on the road...

So as a test run I’ve decided to take it to Scotland. All going well, motor runs nicely, not using oil, coolant level stable, not chewing through fuel. There’s just one thing which is curious... I’m travelling up with my GF and her friends, when her and her friend have driven it this weird thing has happened..

They’re either shifting in/out of third, feels like its in gear, let the clutch out but it’s not actually in gear, then the throttle is stuck wide open. Accelerator isn’t stuck down, no idea what’s happened, just had to switch it off (I know not good to do this while revving but no other option) then restart it and runs fine again.

Any ideas? I can’t even picture what might be going on. It’s only happened twice so far, so I’m not exactly sure on the conditions which cause it to happen.

 

[Sjvarley]

Heya,

It’s been a while since I’ve last posted. Following getting my ‘95 colour running it subsequently required a new head gasket and catalytic converter but Finally it’s on the road...

So as a test run I’ve decided to take it to Scotland. All going well, motor runs nicely, not using oil, coolant level stable, not chewing through fuel. There’s just one thing which is curious... I’m travelling up with my GF and her friends, when her and her friend have driven it this weird thing has happened..

They’re either shifting in/out of third, feels like its in gear, let the clutch out but it’s not actually in gear, then the throttle is stuck wide open. Accelerator isn’t stuck down, no idea what’s happened, just had to switch it off (I know not good to do this while revving but no other option) then restart it and runs fine again.

Any ideas? I can’t even picture what might be going on. It’s only happened twice so far, so I’m not exactly sure on the conditions which cause it to happen.

Ok. Third gear is always the first to play up. Sometimes it could be the gear linkage bushes but sadly it’s most ly the synchro rings. Just put up with it . What’s the engine spi. If so it could be the map sensor or feedback sensor from the cable throttle. If carbed engine the rubber protection for the throttle cable can get stuck behind the arc of the lever causing over Rev Hope this may help sj

 

[crumbtoasty]

Hmm, yeh I’m familiar with a loose third gear, it’s happened in pretty much every manual I’ve owned.. it’s an SPI with a Webber throttle body (I think, 6 beers later) I don’t think it’s either of those two things, it’s never happened to me, but I like to be careful with older cars and make sure they go into gear properly before releasing the clutch, the girls might have been changing too quickly. Since it’s happened to either of them they’ve been more careful with changes and it hasn’t happened again. I’m happy to live with it , just thought it might have happened to someone else before

 

[Sjvarley]

Hmm, yeh I’m familiar with a loose third gear, it’s happened in pretty much every manual I’ve owned.. it’s an SPI with a Webber throttle body (I think, 6 beers later) I don’t think it’s either of those two things, it’s never happened to me, but I like to be careful with older cars and make sure they go into gear properly before releasing the clutch, the girls might have been changing too quickly. Since it’s happened to either of them they’ve been more careful with changes and it hasn’t happened again. I’m happy to live with it , just thought it might have happened to someone else before

Yes it does happen on our spi punto engined panda the over reving that is

 

[crumbtoasty]

Oi oi,

So I’ve been driving it for another day, and I’m now pretty sure it’s just a sticky cable. It’s reproducible when you push the accelerator all the way in, about half the time this will cause the throttle to stick, a few sharp taps and it will release itself. Avoiding planting the pedal has resolved the issue completely, might lube the cable with some light oil when I get back just to be safe. Stoked!

 

[onemanmade]

just as a side note this can also occur when the stepper motor (or idle control) is in need of replacement.

 

[panda1408]

This is almost certainly what Steve mentioned in his post, the rubber grommet on the end of the outer cable at the engine end works loose and then gets jammed in the throttle lever. Cut the rubber off and job done!

 

[crumbtoasty]

Heya, opened the bonnet again, little rubber grommet was dangling loose , no doubt getting caught. Problem solved!