Citroen CX lost gear

[9000se]

Hi All,

Having had some luck with the headgasket (with a sealant) and changed the alternator recently, I ran into an issue on the way home.

Driving along a dual carriage way in 5th, the traffic came to a halt and I shifted down, but at that point the gear lever became loose and the further I can go to the left is now in the middle.

I was able to momentarily select 1st and 3rd (random luck) to crawl home, also fifth and stalled a few times.

In short, I think I have lost some gears...it's kind of pot luck what gear I would get.

Tried to reverse when I'm home and couldn't select reverse, it went into what feels like a fourth...

Would any one know what is wrong with it. I am hoping not a gearbox out (ie engine out) job or need a new gearbox...

Many Thanks!

[white exec]

Gear linkage/cables rather than the box?

[Michel]

Hi All,

Would any one know what is wrong with it. I am hoping not a gearbox out (ie engine out) job or need a new gearbox...

Many Thanks!

In my experience, that sounds like the linkage from the lever to the 'box has failed , rather than the box itself. They're not *usually* tricky or expensive to sort out. If it's the ball and socket type that's worn out, they can be cable-tied together for a temporary fix. They can on an XM 2.1TD when this happens anyway So easy, you can do it in an Ikea car park in the rain, without getting under the car..

[dnsey]

Wiper linkage repair clips work brilliantly on worn wiper balljoints, and although supposed to be temporary seem to go on for ever. I don't see why they wouldn't work just as well on gear linkages.

[wurlycorner]

That will be a linkage problem or possibly clutch adjustment related.

Does the shift feel any different or does it just graunch and refuse to go into gear when you try and change gear?

The gearshift on a CX wasn't the most accurate thing in the world when new and is very sensitive to proper clutch adjustment - any sign of the clutch not fully disengaging and no chance of changing gear...

[9000se]

Thanks for all the reply, I had thought it was the linkage, but it was too dark to see last night, will try and sort this weekend.

The gearbox had become harder to move into gear recently, the spring has gone in the gear stick, so I guess it sounds like the linkage.

Thanks for all the reply!

[flying clutchman]

If I remember rightly the cx had little wire clips round the balljoints to stop them coming apart. It certainly sounds like linkage somewhere though

[9000se]

Unfortunately the CX has been standing (well sitting...) for the past 4 months as I haven't had time to attend to her.

It's so sad looking at her like that and I have decided that I might take her across the pond next week, so...need to fix the gearbox linkage first.

My Haynes manual is a little useless, could someone please tell me where I should be looking, is it a cable or a metal bar linkage? I couldn't see anything under the bonnet when I got some one to stir the gearbox whilst I check...

Thanks!

[9000se]

Found the missing page with illustration of gearlinkage on the Haynes manual, ripped out, folded and tucked in the book...will revert back if I still can't find it!

[wurlycorner]

If 3rd and 4th work fine but you struggle to get 1st, 2nd, 5th and reverse, then it's the linkage that sits on the right hand side on top of the box, as you look at it from standing in front of the car.
This linkage 'lifts' a sleeve on the gear selector shaft where it comes out of the gearbox. Very unlikely to be a problem knife the box or on the shaft where it come out of the box. The pivot point where the lever attaches to the bracket on the gearbox has probably seized.

Difficult to describe, but I'll see if I have some pictures (I had to unseize one of mine a couple of weeks ago, using a blow torch, wd40 and a big long adjustable - had to remove the spare wheel bracket to get enough space to swing the spanner)

[9000se]

Thanks! Really appreciate the guide, I managed to sort it out...but it doesn't feel very secure once put back. So I bought some wiper clips to try and secure it (yet to come...)

Googling didn't find me a replacement rod, but am wondering if the saxo/106 would fit...mmm