clutch, clutch cable or gear linkage?

[john]

with my engine running (but stationary) i can get all gears easily, but when the car is moving i sometimes have to force it, ive had a look at the linkage, the big long one (number 2) and one of the small one's (number 3) seem ok but the other short 1 has a bit of play (5mm maybe), also the "knuckle" (number 1) has abit of play



could any of these be causing the issue? or could it even be the cable or clutch itself?

[411514]

Might also be worth investigating the bottom engine mount, a problem here often results in the sypmtoms you describe, reasonably simple and inexpensive to change, sam

[citronut]

maybe even wrong or low gear oil,

regards malcolm

[john]

maybe even wrong or low gear oil,

regards malcolm

what colour is gear oil?

i ask as there is a lot of oil on the under side of the engine, im pretty sure i need a sump gasket but there was also oil below the driveshaft (driverside) where it goes into the gearbox.

[VertVega]

... what colour is gear oil? ...

It would be difficult to tell it from the color since both engine oil and gearbox oil
becomes dark during their life time. If the gearbox oil has never been changed
it should be real dark

Gearbox oil has a very distinctive smell and you get it while draining.
I changed mine today

[john]

mmm, i'll need to have another look and smell then.

[Sulla]

The gear linkage on my S2 was replaced about 4 years ago. Symptoms of this were struggling to get into 2nd and 3rd gears and the fact it would also pop out of gear (usually 3rd) occasionally when it failed to angage properly. Once the linkage was replaced the gears changed like a dream again.

[citronut]

as VertVega says very distinctive smell a bit like cat's wee,

pull the engine dip stick out and smell that for a comparison with what is under the car

regards malcolm

[myglaren]

I always find it a very sweet and sickly smell