Mk4 Notchy/stiff Gear Change

[zxrman]

I have a 63 plate 2.0 TDCI 163bhp with 25k on the clock. I've had it for 3 about months now, but I feel the gear change is not as smooth as it should be.

When changing through the gears it feels what I can only describe as "notchy". This is something I feel in the gear lever rather than any audible sound or crunch ! That said, It is at it's worse when changing up from 2nd to 3rd and I sometimes hear a "clunk" as it goes into gear.

I've tried various things to try and determine what the issue might be and the 2 things that seem to help are - pushing the clutch all the way to the floor during changes, so way past the "bite" point of the clutch pedal, but it doesn't eliminate it altogether. The bite point of the clutch is about half way up and I have no issues with slipping or anything else. The other thing that helps is slowing the gear change down - I think I change gear normally - I don't ram it through the gears, but if I drive like a grandad that also seems to help.

I've taken it to a main dealer and their "technician" took it for a drive and declared nothing wrong with it (what a surprise !).

My initial though were a synchromesh issue or a mis-aligned clutch plate ? Could it be a linkage issue or gearbox oil ? Does anyone have any idea what it might be or some checks I can do to convince the dealer there is a problem? Or is this how the Mk4 box is ? (I've had a MK2/Mk3 prior to this and both were fine).

Any input appreciated.

[pragmatix]

I think a lot are like this mine is also hard to put into 1st gear when first starting of I have to select another gear first then it goes into gear ok, and you should allways press the clutch right to the floor

[BOF]

Mine feels a little 'notchy' - not intolerable, by any means, but you can feel it, at times. I have wondered about the oil, but haven't tried anything, largely because I haven't decided what would make sense to try.

I did try, when I first got the car, a little PTFE-loaded grease in some of the joints in the remote mechanism, but that may have only helped a little...or that may be all in the mind.

When I look at the mechanism, I can see a couple of weights that look to me a bit like someone said: 'this feels a bit notchy, and these weights will make it subjectively better', so, given those, I kind-of expected it to be a bit marginal. But that may be something I've just made up (in other words, it seems plausible, but I have no direct evidence that it is how it came about).

While mine isn't perfect, I think it is the way it came out of the factory, and in the (wide) class 'they are all like that, sir'.

[mondeo161]

Ford changed a couple of bearings on some shaft in the gearbox and it was a wee bit better for a short while but it is as bad as ever now.

I am just going to wait till it becomes a pain and take it to a gearbox specialist.

[zxrman]

Thanks for the comments. I get the impression that "it's just the way they are", which is disappointing given the money I paid for the car.

I still have a years warranty on the car, so I'll see how it goes and if it gets worse I'll get an independent to inspect it and see if there is a fault and then take it to Ford.

[pragmatix]

It's annoying to think that at one time Ford gearboxes where some of the slickest about, I think back to my 1600E and that box was like a knife through butter.

The missus Fiesta is a little better but not great, in fact I don't recall driving a car of recent times that has a really slick gearchange

[mondeo161]

Unfortunately the gearbox lets a good car down. So I will think hard before I have another one.

[pragmatix]

Try BMW like stirring thick treacle, VAG group cars also notchy, not sure what you would replace a Mondeo with

[V6 Lover]

The gearbox on my v6 mk2 was as smooth as butter...mk3 v6 can be notchy first thing on winters mornings but not a problem...

[jeebowhite]

Did you buy the car from a garage / trader / dealer? if so, take it back and get them to fix it under your consumer rights!