Car not pulling away in first??

[Cat_5]

Does anyone know what this could be?

Just tried pulling off my driveway but the car wouldn't move forward. The engine started fine as normal but when I went to pull away nothing happened! I also somehow discovered I was able to select first gear without actually pushing down on the clutch. Any ideas what this could be and if so, at what cost?

Thanks,

[E-bmw]

Can you feel the clutch resistance as normal?

Can you feel whether the gear lever is actually doing anything?

[MB140]

Make and model (year) would be helpful.

Porsche Cayman/Boxter have a habit of the linkage end snapping or popping off for example.

[Cat_5]

There is resistance in the clutch, in the sense that it still springs back up, but now there’s a problem I’m probably overthinking it and can't tell if it feels "looser" than normal.
Selecting each gear doesn't feel any different to when I last drove it. Often it's been a bit clunky changing from 2nd to 1st.
It’s a 2008 Skoda Fabia, nothing fancy. I had a full service done on it last November and the MOT passed in March, albeit an advisory on the exhaust which I’m taking to get fixed in the next week or two.

[Cat_5]

Also, when I tried revving it, it didn't feel like there was a lot of power.

[GreenV8S]

Most likely the gear linkage has become disconnected.

[sunbeam alpine]

Can you pull away in 2nd, or aren't any gears engaging?

[Cat_5]

All of the gears are engaging (whether that's with the clutch up or down), I just can't move anywhere.

[E-bmw]

What is the history of the fault?

Did it feel right when last driven?

Were there any unusual noises when you tried earlier?

[Cat_5]

I drove it on Thursday evening and it seemed absolutely fine, there was no reason for me to suspect anything was wrong. No unusual noises, I started the engine which sounded like it always does.

The history of the fault, you mean the exhaust issue? The MOT test results said:

Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories):
• Front Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases flexy and joint (6.1.2
(a))
• Rear exhaust corroded

The mechanic said ideally not to leave it any more than a couple of months to fix this but we're probably looking at a new catalytic converter. Would that affect the transmission?

[227bhp]

Do you live anywhere near Liverpool perhaps?

[sunbeam alpine]

227bhp said:

Do you live anywhere near Liverpool perhaps?

ISWYDT

[E-bmw]

By "history of the fault" I meant when did you first find it, what happened, what did you try, what did you hear, what did you see feel etc & no, I am not asking about the exhaust unless that is what you want our help with.

[GreenV8S]

Cat_5 said:

All of the gears are engaging (whether that's with the clutch up or down),

How do you know?

If the gear lever feels the same regardless of whether the clutch is up or down, it's pretty likely it is not actually engaging.

[aka_kerrly]

Hang on, the clutch pedal goes DOWN and comes back UP as normal? in which case its unlikely the clutch has failed.

Are these statements correct???
1) With the engine running, you can put the gear lever into the position for 1st gear with and without the clutch pedal pressed and the car doesn't move/stall

2) With the engine running, you can put the gear lever into 2nd/3rd or reverse and still NO movement, the engine doesn't stall


If you can indeed flop the gear stick around all over the place without selecting any gears then it is likely the gear linkage - there are 2 cables attached to the gearbox end may have come off/become loose . In this picture it is part 3



This link takes you to the Skoda Fabia workshop manual showing the gear linkage setup/test procedures.
https://workshop-manuals.com/skoda/fabia-mk2/power...