Xantia - 5th gear problem

[Jaf]

Lovely Fred lost 5th gear this morning. Was driving along in 5th on the motorway when the gearbox made an almighty noise (blender with nails in it?). Reading on here it seems likely that 5th gear has exploded, but that it’s possible I may be able to change the cog and fork in-situ. Providing that the gearbox is not internally damaged!

The gearbox is fine in the other 4 gears. Though the clutch has been on the way out with a high/ stiff pedal for years.

Anyway can anyone give me the parts numbers? And any fitting advice?

Many thanks

[GiveMeABreak]

VIN please... the crystal ball is empty.

[Jaf]

Vin is VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]. Thanks Marc

[GiveMeABreak]

I don't know quite what you are after, but these are what I can see.

If you can specify Table A, B, C or D and then the part reference on the diagram, I can give you the corresponding part numbers.

Click the images to zoom

(A) FIRST LINE MANUAL GEAR BOX	(B) REPAIR KIT MANUAL GEARBOX
(C) SECOND LINE MANUAL GEAR BOX A	(D) SECOND LINE MANUAL GEAR BOX B

[RichardW]

8,9,10 box A and 11 and 12 Box C Marc.... £255 from Citroen, less than I thought! However, these are widely used, so a 2nd hand set is a distinct possibility, if you can find one in a scrap yard - there might be differences in the number of teeth, but you should be able to find a matched set off a diesel which will give a similar ratio. Jim's website (http://www.eastment.net/BE3%20Gearbox%20Strip.htm) explains how to get it apart - the 5th gear is under the end cover, and can be got at with the box in situ.

[GiveMeABreak]

Cheers Richard - it's been a busy day today on the Forum.

[Peter.N.]

If its a similar box to the CX, yes. I removed the end plate on mine and replaced the synchro ring, depends largely what's broken.

Peter

[Jaf]

Ok I’ve checked the oil level, it was fine, so removed the end plate. There’s nothing obviously broken, no swarf or shiny bits. The selector fork moves with the gear lever. The gears engage, as turning the brake disc manually gets as difficult as you’d expect.

I’ve read the eastment.net how-to several times. Guess it has to be dismantled before I find out what’s wrong.

Is there any way of confirming that 5th gear is engaging fully? Is it possible that a worn engine mount could throw the engine so far over that it could affect the gear selection?

[admiral51]

Probably not going to help but years back i had a fiat 127 and an engine mount broke, all i could get was reverse, so yes i guess a worn/broken engine mount will give you grief depending on how the linkage runs

[white exec]

Try disconnecting the gear change linkage, and engaging 5th "by hand". If it goes in, it points to a misaligned linkage (or engine mounts).

[Jaf]

Didn’t get very far today. Cold, really cold. Got the gearbox end cleaned up and back on. Topped up oil.

Tried the gears again, had a moment where I thought all was well. But no. The car starts to pull away in 5th, even from stationary, the noise comes at the end of releasing the clutch pedal. All other gears fine.

Getting warmer end of the week. Will poke around some more then.

[Jaf]

This is someone else's video. The same noise..

[white exec]

That sounds like something (non-metallic?) rubbing, with friction. Doesn't sound like metallic disintegration...

[Stickyfinger]

Sounds to me that could be spinning-non engaged gears.
I do not hear broken metal either

[Peter.N.]

Is the selector shaft actually moving it into gear?

Peter