Stiff Gear Stick In Neural

[sfrano]

Hi all,

After some advice about my new Focus (mk2 1.8 tdci)

With any other car I have driven, with the gear stick in neutral and moved from side to side, it usually springs back to the centre. Whilst this does happen in the Focus, its like there is something stopping it from springing back. It goes into gear no problem, it just feels a bit stiff (for want of a better word) especially in neutral.

Anyone else had this/have any suggestions to remedy this?

Sorry if the description is a bit vague, as I have said the gearbox seems to function just fine apart from the "stiffness"

Thanks in advance :)

[jeebowhite]

Do you have difficulty shifting between gears? or is it just this initial resistance in neutral? :p

[sfrano]

Selecting gears is no problem, works as I expect, just initial resistance

[InKontrol]

Best bet is to probably unclip the gearstick surround and lift the gaiter up, then have a look at the gubbins where the gearsticks sit in. When I changed the knob on my gearstick it looked like the other end of the shaft was a ball and socket system (don't quote me on this though because that was a while back).

A bit of grease on said ball and socket area won't go amiss I guess.