1st and 5th Gear Difficult to Select

[shortlad]

Help please...

1st and 5th are difficult to select on my car (2000 W reg - very early car) when it's cold with 5th sometimes impossible on the first attempt at 5th.

It usually gets better when it's warm.

The bite point is OK (about mid way).

The fluid is full up as well and checked it last week.

Did I read somewhere that the engine mounts can cause this problem? The engine was rebuilt about 3,000 miles ago so would think they were changed then??

The cluth was described as fine when the engine was rebuilt and I would have thought they would have advised a change if it looked nearly worn out??

Don't really want someone to drop the gearbox out before I know I have to.

Help will be appreciated.

Update.... Just been through my whole file and can't find any mention of a new clutch! It's got 39,000 on the clock so doubt it's the original.

Edited by shortlad on Sunday 2nd November 22:30

[dvs_dave]

Standard AP Racing clutches last about 20k so it's likely a second clutch on its way out.

Typical modes of failure are the slave cylinder seals going or the diaphram spring fingers breaking off due to metal fatigue. Either of these would account for your gear selection problems.

Get it upgraded with a Raceproved clutch and slave, they're much better and much higher quality.

[D14 AYS]

dvs_dave said:

Typical modes of failure are the slave cylinder seals going or the diaphram spring fingers breaking off due to metal fatigue. Either of these would account for your gear selection problems.

My last clutch lasted 9000 miles

[andyoleary]

I've heard of collapsed engine mounts causing problems with getting into gear but yours sounds like seals or clutch fingers maybe. If you can get the bonnet off you can see for yourself the condition of the near-side engine mount (most common to go due to proximity to manifold/cats) though,

Does it go into 5th if you put it into 3rd or 4th first?

Andy

[cube]

Similar thing on mine, 1st became hardwork to engage, which was traced to the engine mount collapsing

[shortlad]

andyoleary said:

Does it go into 5th if you put it into 3rd or 4th first?

Andy

It's usually just the first time I try 5th. I go back to fourth and then try again half mile up the road and in it goes.

Sometimes I get a bit of a clonk through the gear lever though.

[shortlad]

cube said:

Similar thing on mine, 1st became hardwork to engage, which was traced to the engine mount collapsing

I thought I had heard of this.... Think I may get the bonnet off and have a look at it.

[tobeee]

Mine suffered this a year ago. New mounts helped, but in the end I did need a new clutch. Unfortunately gear change is getting sticky again, and I had assumed it was my new clutch failing, but this post has reminded me about the mounts, so maybe they've gone again! Service next week, so will know soon...