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GTV gear selection problem - entry into 3rd gear "vague" ..

7K views 17 replies 9 participants last post by  Alfafamily 
#1 ·
I'm having an annoying problem with the Gearbox on my GTV. Car is a 6 speed, V6 with only 50k on it. Its my 2nd GTV, and I did 85k in the first GTV without any significant problems, amazingly.

I don’t drive like a hooligan, but the 2nd to 3rd shift is an important shift if I'm on the move and I want to do it smoothly and reasonably quickly.

Problem is when I want to shift from 2nd into 3rd it is gearstick entry to 3rd is really vague and I end up having to be quite careful not to push it back into 1st, or straight into 5th, which kinda negates the whole point of accelerating swiftly.

2nd into 3rd, and 4th down to 3rd aren't what they should be and sooner or later I'm going to leave a trail of cogs on the road behind me…


The left-to-right gear locations of 1st 3rd 5th all seem remarkably close too, whereas entry into 2nd, 4th 6th is no problem. Pity there isn't a Ferrari style open grate to see the exact gear pattern (unless someone has made an upgrade to do just that !)


Does anyone recognise this problem ? Are the detent springs (I think) adjustable ? has something worn/broken ?

Any help appreciated.
 
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#3 ·
Quite agree ... BUT even if I push it gently out of 2nd it doesnt really feel like it knows where to go and will easily slide forwards into 1st, not naturally into 3rd like you would expect. Giving it a very slight nudge right to assist it into 3rd can result in it missing 3rd and going into 5th ! At present I have to concioulsy move out of 2nd then 'feel' my way into 3rd and most of the time it works.

I dont know how the gearbox selector system works, but does it sound like something is broken ? .. or is it a case of something needing adjusting like springs that bias the movement for a natrual 2nd to 3rd shift ?
 
#5 ·
it's two bushes located on top of the gearbox which need changing as they have become 'tight' & not allowing the gear stick to 'spring' back into the neutral position.

Part no:46467103 £1.19+vat each.

A fiddly job, good luck.

Clive
Thanks for the reply.

The 'on top of the gearbox' bit worries me !! Am I right in thinking that I've got to get right into the engine bay, or under the car, to get to them ? Least the parts are a mere £1 each...

Is this detailed in the workshop manuals ?
 
#6 ·
You can get to the bushes and gear selector if you remove the hose and resonator from air filter to manifold.

This is how it looks

http://www.shrani.si/f/3Q/ht/1zfbgL3q/0001.jpg

Another problem could be that the plastic part under the gear stick is loose (the part in which the gear stick moves)
 
#10 ·
My V6 is the same, you really have to work hard and aim to get it into 3rd when, and i do drive like a hooligan!I'd be interested to know if you fixed the problem with the above suggestion. Might get mine to a firendly garage though, pictures of bits of the insides of cars make me giddy!
 
#11 ·
Since making the post I havent taken it any further .. yet. I've got a load of odd jobs to be done along with a quad exhaust to be fitted etc, all done simultaneously some point soon.

However, the 2nd to 3rd problem has got marginally worse in that selecting ANY gear is now a bit vague. If I want 1st/2nd or 5th/6th its somewhat easier becuase I know they are in the 'corners' of the selection pattern etc.

It currently feels like the selector system is full of bits of rubber or something, and swift gearchanges are not easy. Slotting into any chosen gear is becoming a bit hit n miss. Pity really becuase the car is only on 50k, and the rest of the car is great, with the most eager and responsive 3.0 V6 I've driven.
 
#12 ·
err realise this thread is really old now but wondered if you ever got to the bottom of the problem? My 6 speed box has started to do similar, i.e. going into third sometimes feels it's blocked so go to 2nd or 4th then to third and goes in ok. Could something be loose somewhere? Clutch seems fine and sometimes it goes into third no problem.
 
#13 ·
I decided to live with it, as the box is still usable, just not as good as it should be. Problem hasnt really got any worse.

The reply from 'Alan Q4' above seems to summarise the problem, and when last in for a service, the Alfa expert agreed with the diagnosis. He added it was most likely just age and that some rubbery parts perish causing the hesitation. He said it was a simple problem but that it could involve hours of work trying to get at it. Sorry cant be of more help.
 
#14 ·
Had same prob with my GTV several months back (and only at about 35k) - took dealer about an hour to fix, they lubed/freed up the mech on top of gearbox. Not sure if they replaced the bushes too. Lever then sprang back to neutral normally after.
 
#15 ·
It definitely cures the problem. Oddly enough it seems to affect cars that are used less often, hence low mileage cars being afflicted. I took mine to pieces and opened out the bushes because I couldn't get them soon enough. I'd hit first gear twice instead of third and decided to have a play with it on a Sunday morning.The difference is amazing and the job is well worth doing.
 
#18 ·
When I did it it went into the first gear position quite easily. Luckily it was just a normal pull away not full on the power. It is frightening believe me!. The worst bit for me was not being able to easily chang from fourth to third. It just wasn't where you expect it to be, I was chugging around corners in fourth or slowing right down and taking second. Just horrible.
 
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