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Can't select gears

19K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  BeauchampB 
#1 ·
THink my car is poorly.

Long story short - I was admiring a R34 GTR next to me while sitting in traffic - forgot I was in 2nd gear and tried to pull away - naturally car stalled.

When car stalled there was a huge bang - and I mean seriously loud - car started fine carried on driving fine.

Went to start yesterday morning to go to work - couldn't select gears. COuld after trying about 5 times (taking foot of clutch etc).

THis morning I pushed the clutch and could select gears very easily while the engine is off. Start engine - becomes very stiff - needs a bit of persuading.

Once car is moving it is fine - changes gear just like it normally has for the past 2 years.

WHat do we reckon - I don't think its anything major wrong with gearbox, DMF isn't rattling - everything sounds normal - just this selecting gears first thing when car is started.

Any ideas?
 
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#3 ·
I got a very similar problem. If I leave my car over night or for a period of couple of hours I can't move my gear stick freely at all, even with clutch down. It's as if it's seized up. Only after really pushing it across and into first and second does it then free itself and able to move it on each gear and was fine driving like yours. However Now it feels like it gets stuck when trying to go into neutral. There's no noise, juddering. I think our problems might be related. Had my bearings replaced about a month ago. So I'm just gonna take it back to that garage.
 
#4 ·
BigDave87 - exactly the same. Works fine with no engine on - once engine on becomes difficult, once on the move its spot on changes gear normally.

Hoping it isn't clutch as that will mean new DMF as well I assume.

With engine on I can move the gearstick in neutral - just can't select gearas straight away.

I just had to pop out - before moving I put the car into each gear with no engine on - started up and it went in fine. Bit reluctant to but no where near as bad.

Oh dear hope its not a trip to the stealers which will be expensive.
 
#6 ·
Took mine back to the garage this morning for a check and thinks it's something like a bush on the lid getting stuck and once it's warm and oiled it's releasing and allowing gear stick to move freely. He played around with gear box with his hands and said nothing is leaking and all gears are working fine and nothing external is catching anything. However he wants to test the linkages properly one by one. So I have to leave car with him over night as he wants to happen when car is cold.
 
#9 ·
Ok they have had a good look and in the end they said it's the cables going from the gear stick to the gear box. Firstly they took them off and tested the gear box and all the gears moved freely. So they connected each cable back up and he said the stiffness was there in each of the gears which wasn't right. Garage I took it too are gearbox and transmission specialists and even they also said they have never had to do this on an Astra. So I was like oh Ffs this is gonna be expensive. So they rang Vauxhall and have said that it will cost £61 plus vat and about 2 hours to fit it with labour at £70, so in total £131 plus vat. Which shocked me as I was expecting a 500/600 pound bill. He did say he has greased up the cables at the gear box end and just to see how it goes Tbh. The best they came up was as the rubber cables warm up it somehow loosens itself, but the issue is definitely the cables. He also said as it only lasts a couple of minutes driving it won't cause any damage. I'm thinking though just to take it to Vauxhall for a check and see what they think is happening. Funny like you said since they greased it up a bit I didn't have any problems this morning and even when at work after 8 hours. Gearbox was perfect when driving.

Well I hope this helps mate. Tried to recall everything they said.
 
#14 ·
all sounds familiar.
I have a 2010 1.6 Astra (new model) - does this have cable or hydraulic clutch?
Not been entirely convinced re the gears - not as good as my old Escort.
I got the odd grinding trying to get reverse - thought it was me but clutch pedal was to the floor.

The other day - moved to a new level.
Set off - gear select very easy.
Down the road - suddenly very difficult to get into gear but managed it without any grinding.
Problem eased and gear changing ok - so was it me?
But tried to set off back home - problem. Crawled into a side street, stopped to let a car past then couldn't get any gear at all.
Switched off the engine and was able to put into gear - very confusing - why?
started to crawl home but on the way started changing gear ok again.
Went to shop - came out, gears working ok even just using palm of hand to change.
Minute later - cannot select.
Combination of switching off engine, driving in one gear and gears selecting ok - I got home.

At one stage it felt the clutch pedal was floppy/soft - couple of pumps it seemed to hardened - then changed gear.
Cannot say for certain if this was the case as I did this automatically and thought about it later.
 
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