Difficulty engaging gears

[paul100]

Hi

I have a 1995 4.0 Chimaera and recently noticed when on long runs it can be difficult to engage gears - e.g. when recently pulling into a service station after 2 hours on the M6 I couldn't select any gears when changing down and had to coast into a parking bay. I could select the gears again after everything had cooled down.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[Barreti]

Have you checked or changed the gearbox oil recently?

[carsy]

As said try some fresh oil first. After that i`d be looking at master and slave cylinders.

[EGB]

carsy said:

As said try some fresh oil first. After that i`d be looking at master and slave cylinders.

Yes top them up. My worn slave cylinder was leaking

[Trevor450]

An oil change may make all the difference. As well as the fluid related issues mentioned above, the fingers on the pressure plate can go and will result in similar symptoms. May be applicable if it is on its original clutch.

[paul100]

Hi

Thanks for all your responses.

Changing the gearbox oil must be the best way to go.

As I have not attempted this before I would welcome any guidance on how to do this.

Thanks again

Paul

[MethylatedSpirit]

Where about is the bite point? If it's very low then there may be an issue with the master or slave cylinder leaking fluid.

[carsy]

paul100 said:

Hi

Thanks for all your responses.

Changing the gearbox oil must be the best way to go.

As I have not attempted this before I would welcome any guidance on how to do this.

Thanks again

Paul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fb7w3dEZeE

[paul100]

Hi

Problem solved by replacing what turned out to be a leaking master cylinder - thanks to all for your help.

As noted from other posts, it was an absolute nightmare undoing the bottom bolt on the master cylinder !!

I eventually used a 13mm socket to hold the head of the bolt stationary - the socket was attached to an extension arm that was about 10cm in length.

The extension arm and socket just fitted underneath the cylinder with the ratchet parallel to the reservoir.

A friend could then easily undo/do-up the nut in the footwell.

Though I would mention this as it worked like a treat for me and might be useful for others.

Cheers

Paul

[domV8]

Glad your problem was solved OP.

I have the opposite issue to this - in that there is never any problem getting INTO gear, but when warmed-up it can be almost impossible to get the gearstick OUT of gear...

I have never heard of this before, and cannot see the logic as to why this might be - however, sometimes I have to take my hand off and almost knock it out of gear...

I have had both Master/Slave and all connections checked (no leaks, full of oil), and pushing clutch to the floor (way beyond the bite point) makes no difference at all...

It almost feels like something has gone "sticky" (are there bushes here?) and is sticking the gearstick in position in a gluey-type manner...

Very bizarre. Not dangerous or anything, just one of those things you think "surely that shouldn't be like that?"...???

Any ideas..?

Dom