Can't select 1st/2nd gear

  1. Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2009 Chesterfield Posts: 156 Citroen DS3 DSport 1.6 BlueHDI Renault Clio Dynami
    #1
    Was just driving my car which has been standing for a while (waiting for partner to pass her test before I give the car to her) and all of a sudden it won't engage 1st or 2nd gear.

    I drive it every couple of weeks just so it gets some use as opposed to just sitting there, and every other time I've drove it, it's been fine. Pulled up to a kirb, reversed back and started to pull off, everything was going fine. Decided to give the brakes a work out so kept applying them hard until the car stopped, and everything was fine.

    Reversed again to give them another workout, selected 1st but the gear isn't engaging (it's a diesel so it has a clunky box regardless of age according to Parkers). I then tried 2nd and that doesn't seem to wanna engage either. All the other gears work fine, with the exception of reverse being rather stiff when I wanna go back to neutral.

    I have noticed in the past that sometimes when I selected 1st, the stick would go into 1st but wouldn't actually engage the gear (it just crunched until I went back to neutral and did it again)

    Would you reckon the box has gone or am I looking at something to do with the selector or linkages?
  2. Infrequent Poster Joined: Nov 2011 Doncaster Posts: 174 Citroën Saxo Vtr
    #2
    does the clutch still seem okay in the rest of the gears?
  3. Regular Poster Joined: Feb 2013 Plymouth Posts: 388 '99 Golf GT TDi
    #3
    If the car isn't on the flat, try rolling it forward or back a bit, give it a bit of rev as well, mine sometimes won't go straight into first or reverse
  4. Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2009 Chesterfield Posts: 156 Citroen DS3 DSport 1.6 BlueHDI Renault Clio Dynami
    #4
    Yeah clutch is fine mate, I can take my foot completely off when it's in 1st or 2nd now with my foot hard down on the brakes and it won't stall, crunch or anything. Tried forcing the stick but still no joy. Another thing I have noticed is it squeaks a bit when you put a bit of pressure on to push/pull it out of the gears that do work.

    It goes into 1st/2nd position correctly, it's not getting stuck or can't be pushed all the way forward/back so I'm thinking the selector might not be hitting the correct place to operate the linkages (I'm guessing that's how boxes work?)
  5. West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL
    #5
    Bent linkages or failed rubber in the linkages
  6. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #6
    as above. Just because its a diesel saxo doesnt mean the box should be clunky, its the same type of box as a petrol saxo which should change smoothly
  7. Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.
    #7
    does it go into gear with the engine not running?

    It's most likely bent linkages.
  8. Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2009 Chesterfield Posts: 156 Citroen DS3 DSport 1.6 BlueHDI Renault Clio Dynami
    #8
    Won't go in when the engine's switched off either mate, and putting it in 1st and taking the handbrake off just lets it roll as opposed to using the gears as a chock. I'll go out and have a look at the linkages when the rain eases off.

    Guessing from other posts on here that it can be done in about 15/20 mins depending how awkward they are at coming off?

    With regards to the clunking, it's probably due to the oil. I've looked through the service history and there's no mention of any changes so I'll have to get that done.
  9. Super Moderator Joined: Nov 2009 Cambridge(ish), UK. Posts: 10581 BMW 5x M50d.
    #9
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by TenMillionFireflies View Post
    Won't go in when the engine's switched off either mate, and putting it in 1st and taking the handbrake off just lets it roll as opposed to using the gears as a chock. I'll go out and have a look at the linkages when the rain eases off.

    Guessing from other posts on here that it can be done in about 15/20 mins depending how awkward they are at coming off?

    With regards to the clunking, it's probably due to the oil. I've looked through the service history and there's no mention of any changes so I'll have to get that done.
    Yep linkages take longer to get the car in the air than to do normally Very easy job. Recommend the Constella GpN's if you're looking for an upgrade, or their budget version if you're cost conscious.

    Gearbox oil is so frequently overlooked on these cars unfortunately and takes a hammering. Really can bring the gearboxes back to life with a oil change. Certainly worth a change
  10. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #10
    I agree with Ross, gearbox oil is overlooked and the MA is one of the easiest to change - it can be done in literally 10 minutes as it only takes 2 litres
  11. Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2009 Chesterfield Posts: 156 Citroen DS3 DSport 1.6 BlueHDI Renault Clio Dynami
    #11
    Just had a look, the linkages seem to work fine, each gear I change into moves the selector on the top of the box. Although 1st and 2nd don't actually engage, the selector still moves as if it's selected them.
  12. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182
    #12
    so you feel it physically "go" into the gears yet no drive?
  13. Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2009 Chesterfield Posts: 156 Citroen DS3 DSport 1.6 BlueHDI Renault Clio Dynami
    #13
    Yeah mate, you can stick it in 1st or 2nd, the selector will move, the linkages will move but there's no noises from the cogs engaging and no drive. Annoying as it was working fine one minute, I reversed, put it into 1st and then nothing.
  14. Newbie Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 5
    #14
    Did you ever get this sorted, my car seems to be doing the same thing