Gear problems?
Discussion
Hi All. Got a July 05 Sagaris with around 7,500 miles and just recently it has become harder to engage the gears. The clutch is still biting around the right spot and there is no creeping when in 1st and stationary.
Feels like the clutch is not clearing but looking at the above this can't be right.
Has any one had this problem or know what might needs to be done before i check it in.
Feels like the clutch is not clearing but looking at the above this can't be right.
Has any one had this problem or know what might needs to be done before i check it in.
cdd said:
Hi All. Got a July 05 Sagaris with around 7,500 miles and just recently it has become harder to engage the gears. The clutch is still biting around the right spot and there is no creeping when in 1st and stationary.
Feels like the clutch is not clearing but looking at the above this can't be right.
Has any one had this problem or know what might needs to be done before i check it in.
Feels like the clutch is not clearing but looking at the above this can't be right.
Has any one had this problem or know what might needs to be done before i check it in.
Had it with mine at 5000 miles. Was insufficient clearance between the plates. Adjusted by dealer and fine since.
bilton_d said:
Appratently if the clutch is badly alligned they can go very quickly
Just out of interest, how do you badly align a clutch? Going back to the original post, the easiest way to see if a clutch is disengaging properly is to check if it will go into reverse without any sound effects(no syncro on reverse).
I experienced similar problems on a recent jaunt across Europe. Unfortunately the problem occurred in Italy prior to heading to the Stelvio Pass on the way back home.... I decided not to risk the Stelvio due to this issue and went for motorway all the way home instead 
Luckily I had already been to the Nurburgring and driven to my first destination in Italy and was on my way home but not the trip I had planned!
I found I could not engage any forward gears with the engine running and reverse was just grinding when trying to engage. When attempting the engage a forward gear the gear stick felt as if there was something physically blocking it from being moved far enough to get into gear. I also noticed that even with clutch depressed fully that the car would try and creep forwards when the gear stick was pushed as far as it would go into the gear.
Luckily I managed to engage reverse with the engine switched off, started the car with the clutch depressed and reverse back to the parking spot I had just moved from. I then found that I could engage all gears again fine, although the gearbox has not felt good since. The gearbox / clutch would make a faint rubbing noise while in gear with the clutch depressed which seems to be more prominent in reverse.
The car got me back to the UK from Italy (I was at Lake Garda), but during this long drive I kept to motorway where possible and tended to keep it in 5th to avoid any gear changes and drove the car very calmly (no high revs, no changing down to overtake... no fun). Unfortunately when back in the UK and heading through the Dartford tunnel I decided I had taken it easy for long enough and missed far too many opportunities to exploit tunnels on the way home so dropped it down to 2nd gear and booted it... what a lovely noise 
then I attempted to engage 3rd gear but the problem came back... mid way through the Dartford tunnel!!! No gears at all! Luckily when turning the engine off I managed to engage 2nd again and start the car and drive off with my gears back. Luckily it was gone midnight as well so the tunnel was very quiet.
Can anyone help me? I've had some people saying it could be a clutch bearing, or a selector problem??
The gearbox was rebuilt along with the engine 1500 miles (running in period) prior to my European trip.
Luckily I had already been to the Nurburgring and driven to my first destination in Italy and was on my way home but not the trip I had planned! I found I could not engage any forward gears with the engine running and reverse was just grinding when trying to engage. When attempting the engage a forward gear the gear stick felt as if there was something physically blocking it from being moved far enough to get into gear. I also noticed that even with clutch depressed fully that the car would try and creep forwards when the gear stick was pushed as far as it would go into the gear.
Luckily I managed to engage reverse with the engine switched off, started the car with the clutch depressed and reverse back to the parking spot I had just moved from. I then found that I could engage all gears again fine, although the gearbox has not felt good since. The gearbox / clutch would make a faint rubbing noise while in gear with the clutch depressed which seems to be more prominent in reverse.
The car got me back to the UK from Italy (I was at Lake Garda), but during this long drive I kept to motorway where possible and tended to keep it in 5th to avoid any gear changes and drove the car very calmly (no high revs, no changing down to overtake... no fun
). Unfortunately when back in the UK and heading through the Dartford tunnel I decided I had taken it easy for long enough and missed far too many opportunities to exploit tunnels on the way home so dropped it down to 2nd gear and booted it... what a lovely noise then I attempted to engage 3rd gear but the problem came back... mid way through the Dartford tunnel!!! No gears at all! Luckily when turning the engine off I managed to engage 2nd again and start the car and drive off with my gears back. Luckily it was gone midnight as well so the tunnel was very quiet. Can anyone help me? I've had some people saying it could be a clutch bearing, or a selector problem??
The gearbox was rebuilt along with the engine 1500 miles (running in period) prior to my European trip.
NickT said:
I found I could not engage any forward gears with the engine running and reverse was just grinding when trying to engage. When attempting the engage a forward gear the gear stick felt as if there was something physically blocking it from being moved far enough to get into gear. I also noticed that even with clutch depressed fully that the car would try and creep forwards when the gear stick was pushed as far as it would go into the gear.
There was - synchromesh. If a clutch is not disengaging fully the synchro is trying to get everything spinning at the same speed to give the gears a chance of meshing without sound effects. As the speed differential between the two is too great it will not allow the gear to engage.targarama said:
Shirely this is a warranty job since the engine/gearbox was twiddled with majorly recently.
If a new clutch/slave were fitted at the same time then fair comment. If on the other hand they gave the customer the choice of either going with the original parts or fitting new ones and the customer stayed with the original parts then it's not quite as straightforward as that.
Nick T,
I had exactly the same issue where gear selection was fine one day then gone the next then back again sporadically... the cause in the end was a failed clutch...I don't know for sure as I am no expert but the reasons the dealer gave was that a number of the clutch plate fingers had broken off which meant on some occasions the clutch could grip ok then on another no grip, eventually more broke causing complete failure...
Obviously you have had other major work so my issue may be different...
Did you get a new clutch and cylinder when your gearbox was rebuit??
I had exactly the same issue where gear selection was fine one day then gone the next then back again sporadically... the cause in the end was a failed clutch...I don't know for sure as I am no expert but the reasons the dealer gave was that a number of the clutch plate fingers had broken off which meant on some occasions the clutch could grip ok then on another no grip, eventually more broke causing complete failure...
Obviously you have had other major work so my issue may be different...
Did you get a new clutch and cylinder when your gearbox was rebuit??
I was told the clutch was ok so no need to change (if I remember correctly). The most the old clutch would have done was 14k miles. Yes the gearbox was completely rebuilt (needed a new 5th gear synchro due to crunching) and the engine was completely rebuilt.
I shall contact TVR Power who rebuilt the engine and gearbox and see what they say.
I shall contact TVR Power who rebuilt the engine and gearbox and see what they say.
NickT said:
I was told the clutch was ok so no need to change (if I remember correctly). The most the old clutch would have done was 14k miles. Yes the gearbox was completely rebuilt (needed a new 5th gear synchro due to crunching) and the engine was completely rebuilt.
I shall contact TVR Power who rebuilt the engine and gearbox and see what they say.
I shall contact TVR Power who rebuilt the engine and gearbox and see what they say.
Mine was on 12500 miles when the clutch went so it is feasible..
good luck hope its something simple
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