Technical Gears not engaging

[redmonds]

Hi,
I’ve just inherited a 2012 1.3 multijet with 67k on the clock and it won’t go into gear without a fight. I’ve never driven the car and have no information on what the issue could be. What/where is the best place to start looking to sort it out?

 

[redmonds]

Looking at it briefly again it will engage gear but it’s really stiff to move the gear lever from side to side, as if it’s in glue. When I do move it over between 1st and 2nd it stays there and the same for 5th and reverse it will stay between them.
Why could this be?

 

[rmjbn1]

Is it the same engine on and off?

Possibly cables? One cable does forwards and backwards, the other does left and right.

If left and right only is stiff, I'd suspect that cable. Replaced in pairs.

You could try popping the cables off the gearbox and see if the selectors move smoothly by hand to confirm.

Or a bit of thin oil on the cable and work it in and see if it improves?

 

[varesecrazy]

As above,

The mechanism is down low behind the battery..

Select a gear,

See which cable inner is now exposed.. Lubricate that

Select another gear, lubricate an exposed cable inner

Carry on for 10 minutes..

It may well improve

 

[redmonds]

Thanks for the pointers,
Is it possible to remove both cables from the gearbox without damaging the connections?
My think is if I can separate the cables and gearbox it will prove the cables are at fault and I can also hang the cables up and drain oil down them.

 

[bugsymike]

Thanks for the pointers,
Is it possible to remove both cables from the gearbox without damaging the connections?
My think is if I can separate the cables and gearbox it will prove the cables are at fault and I can also hang the cables up and drain oil down them.

If you spray WD40 or similar at the ball ends, then I use a 13mm open ended spanner between the lever and ball to gentle prise them apart.
Incidentally modern cables are nylon/teflon lined I think , so pouring oil down them is unlikely to make much of an improvement.
I recently fitted new cables on a 2010 Doblo 1.6 MJ six speed, it involved car on stands, ideally battery and case out, centre consol and plastic around gear lever etc. heat shield from exhaust off, plastic securing clips that hold the cables to under floor and the bolts that hold the rubber plate to seal cables to below gear change are of floor.
Incidentally I had hoped it would allow easier engagement of first gear, it didn't.
Every other gear works fine , but you have to feel it into first to allow full engagement by lifting the clutch very slightly.
If you ram it in it doesn't go fully in, but gently as I said works with no other issues.
New pattern cables were around £100 approx.
By the way the only adjustment is under gear lever on the cable that controls side to side movement.

 

[redmonds]

Cheers bugsy, that’s a brilliant write up, I’ll be onto that tomorrow.

 

[redmonds]

Me again,
Ive gaven everything a good blast of WD40 and released the cables this allowed me to check their movement both up and down and left to right and the leave moved freely in every direction. I then reattached the cables to the gearbox and selecting gears in and out was fine across them all.
My only issue now is left to right, it’s still like trying to push it through toffee. If I push the lever over between 1st and second the lever stays there and doesn’t return to centre (between 3rd and 4th) where I would expect it to sit. Will adjusting it under the gear lever remove the issue or do I have a bigger issue?
Finally in thinking of changing the gearbox oil but I don’t the grade or quantity needed?

 

[bugsymike]

Me again,
Ive gaven everything a good blast of WD40 and released the cables this allowed me to check their movement both up and down and left to right and the leave moved freely in every direction. I then reattached the cables to the gearbox and selecting gears in and out was fine across them all.
My only issue now is left to right, it’s still like trying to push it through toffee. If I push the lever over between 1st and second the lever stays there and doesn’t return to centre (between 3rd and 4th) where I would expect it to sit. Will adjusting it under the gear lever remove the issue or do I have a bigger issue?
Finally in thinking of changing the gearbox oil but I don’t the grade or quantity needed?

Does sound like the cable is a bit stiff, but it may be worth taking the cover off below the gear lever to check as there is some springs there to centralise the lever.
Adjusting the side to side part will not make it any easier.This is the 2012 Autodata which indicates 75w/85 Synthentic 2.litres, the number below it is the spec.