Problem in engaging all gears! SORTED

[KennyW]

Well it would appear something is on its way out.

Is it the clutch / gear linkages or both

Since getting the old girl going after replacing the hydraulic pipes I noticed changing gears was stiff but loosened up.

Today, I found engaging any gear awkward but trying to find neutral to move either up or done was worse.

Any suggestions to the problem needed quickly as I need the car to go to Windermere on 29th Jan.

Kenny

[Hell Razor5543]

I had the main gear linkage fail on my Xantia back in June 2014. The part was available at that time. The problem was access. The part that failed was 2452 74. Basically the rubber bush perished, and meant the gear lever was (in effect) no longer connected to the gearbox. The part was less than £10 IIRC.

[KennyW]

Thanks James,

This is what I suspected I shall try that first.

Kenny

[Hell Razor5543]

I have just checked, and the price I paid back in June 2014 was £23:90. Sorry I was wrong first time.

[lexi]

You are certainly fighting the fight with that Xantia Kenny. Lots of work.

[RichardW]

What is it like with the engine off - this will give a clue as to the clutch or box / linkage. Does it still feel like the gears are in the 'right' place when engaged? Have you been fording in it recently....??

[KennyW]

The gears feel in the correct place when i find them .
Going from gear to gear ie 1st to 2nd is fine but going from 2nd to 3rd can be interesting.
When disenganging from 2nd to 3rd the neutral position appears to be missing, I believe this excess play in the linkage causing this issue.
The clutch position has changed ie the biting point is no different from the day before.
Fortunately I have not been 'fording' with the car as it has been the white stuff around here for the last week.
I tihnk its the gear linkage as James suggested, I have been suspicious of it for a little while.
I think she is rebelling as I'm on the hunt for a C5 x7 diesel estate exclusive.
My son is learning to drive and he's going to take. He is 24 in the summer and had no interest in learning to drive but requires a car where lives now.
Kenny

[RichardW]

Sounds like the linkage then, Kenny. My mate had trouble with his 1.9TD where the spigot on the back of the subframe snapped off and had to be welded back on!

[KennyW]

Thanks Richard,

I would describe like stirring porridge trying to find neutral, otherwise she is running as good as ever and the suspension is the best its been.

Kenny

[CitroJim]

Kenny, something else that can cause this in this cold weather is the wrong oil in the gearbox.. If it has anything other than 75W/80 then initially gear selection will be as you describe but as things warm a little it'll improve a bit...

[KennyW]

Jim,

It is definitely 75W/80 transmission oil, I've still a litre in ther garage it's Comma make. But I'm going to check the level as I've got avery minor leak running down the mating point between engine and gear box. Possibly a very minor leak from main shaft seal!

Kenny

[KennyW]

Well got under the car and removed the long gear linkage and replaced it with the new one.

The old one had sepearted totally from the arm and the linkage had moved down the gear arm.

I shall put a photo of the old linkage on the thread.

Kenny

[Stickyfinger]

Top Job

[Hell Razor5543]

That is what happened on my Xantia. The rubber bushing perished, and (in my case) the linkage jumped off the gearbox lever. The worst part of the job was getting the remnants of the nylon/steel cup off that lever (they liked it where they were) and it took me 3 hours with a hacksaw to get them off!

[KennyW]

Photo attached.



Kenny