Gear Change problems

[rfoster]

Rather frustratingly, my gear change lever is exceptionally loose (i.e. when in third gear I can move the lever back and forth about 4 inches) and I am now having trouble selecting 4th gear at all. I'm pretty sure it's trouble around the gearlever as opposed to the gearbox. Has anyone else had any trouble with a slack gearchange and what did you do to fix this? Mines a '90 NA so I think I've got the Renault 'Box. Just wondered if it's something I can do myself or whether I've got to take it in to the garage AGAIN.

Cheers all, have a good weekend.

Richard.

[az88turbo]

I replaced all of the linkage rubber bushes on my car and it made a huge improvement.

Mark - 88 Turbo

[PatHeald]

My car has the Citroen box and a cable and rod linkage.

I think yours is a twin cable linkage. Nevertheless, it is probably worth looking here:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=44709&f=17&h=0&hw=crossgate+

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Pat

[JK1]

Richard,

It could very well be the gear shifter assembly itself. There are some plastic bushings in there that can cause the same problem when they wear out.

If they get totally destroyed eventually your gear shift could come apart and leave you stranded, unable to shift gears. Ask me how I know...

You should probably take the center console apart and check the gear shift mechanism as soon as possible.

Oh and by the way Lotus doesn't sell the replacement plastic bushings you have to buy a whole new shifter assembly. It ain't cheap.

Let us know what you find.

Hope this helps.

Jim

[JK1]

Richard,

After reading your post again, I would think that if there was a problem in the gear shift assembly it would be evident in all gears, but maybe not.

It could very well be the cross gate cable and translator linkage as others have mentioned so check that first. Have someone move the shifter around while you look at the linkage in the rear.

Good luck,
Jim

[cnh1990]

If it is the bushings you will see a flat spot on them. If you rotate them you may gain back the gears for a little while.
Calvin

[rfoster]

Thanks for all your input - It's going into the garage for them to cast their eye over today as it sound far beyond my level of mechanics - I'll let you know what they find as the outcome.
Cheers, Richard.

[rfoster]

Thanks for all your input - It's going into the garage for them to cast their eye over today as it sound far beyond my level of mechanics - I'll let you know what they find as the outcome.
Cheers, Richard.

[superdave]

If you need a Renault gear shift cable then I came across a guy in the NE selling one for £25. I think thay are about £86 from SJ. If you want his details then please give me a shout on [e-mail] and I will give you his phone number.

Cheers,



Dave Walters

[rfoster]

Appreciate that Dave, I shall know a bit later!

[rfoster]

Well, as it turns out, a bolt in the bottom of the gear selector had worked its way loose. Also the gear cables were nice & rusted up. So the dealer has cleaned it all up and is putting it all back together tonight so I'll have it back tomorrow. He said I've got a nice tight box, (though quite how he knows my girlfriend I'll never know!)
Thanks for all your input again guys. Good to have other people to rant to with the same probs!
Richard.

[superdave]

I could see that punch line coming LMTO!!