C5 x7 2.0 hdi sticky gear shift

[Jameshezzy]

So I've recently got myself an 08 c5 x7 and while it is a cracking car, I have had some issues with it, the main one now being the gear shift from 5/6 to the lower gears.

Shifting from 1-4 including reverse is great, but getting it over to 5-6 is stiff and coming back down is a lot more difficult. It feels like it is catching on something.

From the receipts I have gotten with this, it appears to have had a replacement gearbox not too long ago. I was thinking it was maybe the cables from the stick to the box that were at fault. Possibly misaligned during the replacement or the lubrication in the sleeves has gone bad.

This video I've attached displays the issue I have;

I was wondering if anyone else here had had this issue or could maybe shed a more experienced light on it than myself.

Cheers,
James

[GiveMeABreak]

Hi James, without knowing the history of the gearbox change it will be difficult to say - as in was the correct box fitted? (there are different types), has it been fitted and adjusted properly (cables wise) etc.?

[GiveMeABreak]

Are you intending to undertake the cable adjustment yourself? If so, I can put a guide up for you - let me know.

[Jameshezzy]

I honestly couldn't say if it was fitted properly, it was done before I took ownership of the car. I would hope it was done correctly as on the receipt it had the gearbox, clutch and flywheel all replaced at the same time. This was only about 14k miles ago too.

I think adjusting the cables myself is a bit out of the scope of my abilities, that and I really don't have the equipment to undertake that kind of task safely.

I was more hoping for a second opinion as to whether my guess at the fault was along the right lines.

[GiveMeABreak]

This is a difficult one and will require investigation - so if it is a recent purchase, was it from a trade seller or private? If a trade seller and recent - I would take it back and get them to deal with it. If private - it will need investigative work to determine whether the clutch / flywheel / gearbox are the correct ones and whether they are fitted correctly. Some gearbox control cables on the C5 X7 can't be adjusted.

[Jameshezzy]

Thanks for the insight. I'd rather not go back through the dealership if I can help it. Took them 3 weeks just to change the turbo actuator position sensor and they didn't even bother to clean the bird crap off the car from where they had it parked!

I was hoping this is something that could potentially be easily remedied, but I had a nagging feeling it wouldn't be.

[GiveMeABreak]

Unfortunately not - but you should be within your rights to hand it back and get them to deal with it - otherwise it is going to cost you James. I understand you may not want to, but it is probably for the best as labour alone to investigate is going to run into hundreds of £s. Better out of their pocket than yours - as even if you were to move it on - you won't be able to with this issue.

[xantia_v6]

Does the gear change mechanism feel ok when the engine is not running?