HELP - Can't select any gears......

GTA_Nigel · #1 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

Bit of a disaster just now. Stopped at the local garage to jetwash the underside of the car and the wheelarches, got back in, turned it on ready to drive off and.....can't select any gears. The gear lever is just wobbling around and won't go into gear. Any thoughts? Probably a link from the gear lever to the box gone? I had a similar thing happen in an MG Montego many, many years ago (bit more alarming in that one as I was doing over 70 in the outside lane of a dual carriageway at the time).

No banging noises when I turned the engine on, doesn't appear to be any oil or fliuid loss. So Any thoughts anyone? Anything I can check to determine what the problem might be?

Cheers,

Nigel

Jacco156ss · #2 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

Sounds like the plastic thing the bottom end of the gear lever sticks in has broken. Part number 46411550 if i'm not mistaken. There are two linkages going from the lever to the gearbox, both of them disconneting at the same time is unlikely.
If you remove the leather cover from the lever you could perhaps see if anything has come loose there.

GTA_Nigel · #3 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

Originally Posted by Jacco156ss

Sounds like the plastic thing the bottom end of the gear lever sticks in has broken. Part number 46411550 if i'm not mistaken. There are two linkages going from the lever to the gearbox, both of them disconneting at the same time is unlikely.
If you remove the leather cover from the lever you could perhaps see if anything has come loose there.

Thanks, will go and take a look.

Cheers,

Nigel

gtaadict · #4 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

Have you checked the linkage under the battery tray ?

GTA_Nigel · #5 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

Originally Posted by gtaadict

Have you checked the linkage under the battery tray ?

No, how do I do that? Fairly technically inept here.....

Jacco156ss · #6 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

Removing the air intake hose from the throttle body to the MAF will give you a better view at how the linkages connect onto the box, don't know from the top of my head if you need to remove the battery as well.

The plastic housing underneath the gear lever has failed on some cars on the Dutch 156 club although normally on older cars. If that breaks there is no connection anymore between the lever and the box.
Copying a picture from the Dutch forum, if there are any objections, let me know and I'll remove it. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-8...IMAG0072_2.jpg
(the broken and the new one are for different models)

Dr GTA · #7 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

The linkage has just popped off the selector I reckon. Its on top of the gearbox, the linkage sits in a ball joint you should be able to pop it back on and be able to drive home.

Happened to me before.

GTA_Nigel · #8 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

Looks like the linkage at the bottom of the gear lever is broken. I took the gaiter off and it looks like a broken "plastic thing" under there. The gear lever is completely lose so it feels like there is no connection at all. At least it happened in the local garage, they should be able to fix that for me.

Thanks for the help, nothing too serious.

Cheers,

Nigel

tomfromtelford · #9 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

Mine did this, cable snapped on way to roundabout. TBH it may be a new set of cables. All the best.

scociu · #10 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

If the gear stick is loose, check first if the cables didn't pop up from the selector. You can do that just by lifting the bonnet. If that's not the case, a cable might just snapped. Encountered both situations recently.

edward · #11 (**Post Link**) 01-07-12

We did have something similar. Not a snap - but the cable came unscrewed from the push clip at the gearbox end - after some work had been done. I think it was after a replacement clutch. I guess it may have got nudged when the work had been done and somehow worked itself loose. At first impressions it looked snapped - but did it up, tightened the locking nut and all has been fine ever since.

GTA_Nigel · #12 (**Post Link**) 02-07-12

Well, the guys at the local garage had a bit of a smile at my expense and will be taking a look at it later today. The good news for me is that from all the examples above it doesn't appear to be anything serious. Thanks for setting my mind at rest.

Cheers,

Nigel

#13 (**Post Link**) 02-07-12

It's amazing how something so little can cause such Mayhem, hope it gets sorted Nige!

Slicer · #14 (**Post Link**) 02-07-12

Lol, same thing happened to me 2 months back. Starting at the green light and pop, no pressure at all. Gear leaver is like ded lamb's leg at hand

Immediately took of the cover plate in console and took a look, seemed "warn" but nothing actual seemed broken. Later mechanic discovered as many here described, that the cable game unscrewed from the gearbox end. Was a matter of scrweing it back into place

Tow truck cost more than that repair, around 20 pounds :P

GTA_Nigel · #15 (**Post Link**) 02-07-12

So it was the simple fix, cable popping out. But have decided to get a new cable fitted while at Neds when it is up for some other work next Monday.

edward · #16 (**Post Link**) 02-07-12

Well done!

tomfromtelford · #17 (**Post Link**) 02-07-12

New cables are zorst off.

GTA_Nigel · #18 (**Post Link**) 02-07-12

Yup, that's why I didn't let the local guys do it. They are good but not Alfa specialists and I would rather have Ned's team do it.

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