Losing The Plot!!!!

[meghan]

Can anyone please give me some advice before I scream!!!

I bought my lovely fiesta ghia only 4 weeks ago and it's decided to start playing up on me ( bought from a private dealer no warranty unfortunately!)

I would be happily driving along and try to change gear and it won't go into any!! It's even happened while sitting at lights and I try to go into first it just won't go..

I've spoke to a few mechanics and all seem to have different opinions. From master cylinder and slave

The clutch feels fine when this happened so I don't think it's anything to do with that..

I'm getting really paranoid about it happening incase it's dangerous if I have to pull over somewhere...

Has any one had the same problem or know what it is??

I really love my wee car so I want to get it sorted.. And yes I'm a girl so I need help!!! :-)

[SandyCat]

Could be the clutch is not disengaging properly (dragging) or could be the selectors themselves. Either way you will need it properly investigating or it could leave your stranded somewhere. Make sure you have breakdown cover too.

[wase16ll]

what happens after it fails to engage, do you pump the clutch to get it to select or does it eventually just slip in.

what are the gear changes like when its working?

is the biting point high or low on the pedal travel?

does the biting point remain consistent throughout or does it get lower once youve managed to select the gear?

sounds like a clutch plate problem to me but let us know the above, might help to pin it down

[Nathan_M]

Try and select gears with the engine off and no clutch, what happens then?

[gadgetman]

Hi

Sounds like the normal gear linkage problem,gear lever is connected to gearbox by cables,these are prone to stretching .If you know a mechanic who will do it cheaply it is corrected by adjusting cables beneath the gear lever under the car.

Hope this helps.

[Torchwood]

Also, does it do it when the car is cold or warmed up, or both!!

The link selector in the gearbox could have worked its way loose, it happens...

So if you are driving happily and it starts playing up, are you able to engage clutch and take it out of said gear, but THEN it will not go into the next gear, say from 5th to 4th, or 5th to 3rd.?

[Nathan_M]

Also, does it do it when the car is cold or warmed up, or both!!

The link selector in the gearbox could have worked its way loose, it happens...

So if you are driving happily and it starts playing up, are you able to engage clutch and take it out of said gear, but THEN it will not go into the next gear, say from 5th to 4th, or 5th to 3rd.?

I would say that if it goes in nicely with the engine off and no clutch then you have to look into the hydraulics and clutch components, otherwise the cables need replacing, as i am under the impression that they are sleeved like the cable for a bicycle brake cable and so arent able to be adjusted, although in some other discussions on here people have suggested quite rightly to get the linkage to gearbox cover off and check it out at that end, perhaps it just wants some lube.