Hello everyone - I am new here and do not know much about cars so please be gentle lol.

My fiesta is a 2009 Zetec diesel 1.4. I only drive it around 1 day a week as my fiancee drives it around 50miles a day but I noticed when she drove off yesterday it crunched going into reverse. I have had the car all day today and it seems to being doing this about 50% of the time when putting it into reverse. All the other gears are fine.

When I push my foot hard on the clutch it seems to solve it most of the time.

The car is going in for a major service as it has done 30000 miles now and is overdue. We have also had a lot of snow so I believe she has was revving on the clutch when she got stuck twice but there was no smoke and I dont believe she did this for long periods as she knows it will burn out.

Can anyone tell me what they think this could be?

Should I be worried?

Will the grinding noise cause any damage?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

this is due to driver error in a way.

Ford Motor Company state that you should allow the engine to idle with your foot fully depressed on the clutch for 5 seconds to allow the gearbox to be able to match reverse gear without the grinding. i guarantee you this will solve the problem

too many people just bang their foot on the clutch and then put it straight into reverse

hope this helps

The Fiesta has a IB5 gearbox which has no syncro mesh for reverse gear unlike the forward gears, you have to allow several seconds before engaging. Regards Jouxy.

this is due to driver error in a way.

Ford Motor Company state that you should allow the engine to idle with your foot fully depressed on the clutch for 5 seconds to allow the gearbox to be able to match reverse gear without the grinding. i guarantee you this will solve the problem

too many people just bang their foot on the clutch and then put it straight into reverse

hope this helps

you can with a mondeo, cougar, focus - these have lift-up for reverse... has the fiesta been designed differently for some reason?