took a test ride in a car i hope to buy last night, and it seemed to kick of gear in eitehr 4th or 5th gear (i wasnt driving)

is there a possible simple reason for this (linkage etc) or is it more commonly a box problem?

any advice welcome

jonni

 

s2rst by the way f plate

 

Synchros fucked or selector worn in the box. Probably the synchros.

 

how about excessive play in linkages?

 

Shouldn't make a difference mate, will make it harder to find gears though. The linkage has a support bar so it moves when the gearbox does so that can't ever really influence it, plus the fact it would do it in every gear.

Let me guess the seller told you it was just play in the linkage?

 

the gearbox was fully rebuilt 2k miles ago and hasnt been hammered in that time the gearbox has only done this twice and ive read and been told a wrongly adjusted linkage can course this, btw the throw seems to be very long??

 

yeah, if it is the linkagwe and it can cause it i dont mind adjusting it, but if its a box problem them im a bit worried

 

Ive had numerous MK3 & 4's that the gear sticks have been, and i quote, "like stirring porridge", when theyve been in gear there has been loads of play in the stick. Once the gear is selected the linkage has no infleunce on whether it stays in gear, because as i said the linkage moves with the engine and box. It doesnt have to of been hammered, a bad grind on a change is enough to damage a synchro.

The linkage if adjusted wrong would make it hard to find gears mainly.

 

so this is most definately a box problem? no chance it could be a damaged engine/box mount?

 

Thats more than likely the problem. Again even if it was a mount gone it still shouldnt happen, the linkage is bolted to the gearbox casing and moves everytime the box does for that specific reason. I'd say theres a very very very very very SLIM chance its the linkage but if it was it should do it in any gear. The car in my siggy had the slackest linkage ive ever seen and that never popped out of gear once.

 

most likely the box, easy to swap out on the mk3's and 4's, ive just done my mk5, box's start at £120 at the local breakers around my way, i got one out my self for £30 but had no guarentee! that is for a 1800i box for an rst you will be looking alot more unless your V lucky, id expect around £250 for a second hand box, just guessing mind i could be way off,

Dont be put off over a box change, knock the guy down on price and swap the box!!! its not a big job, the box is on a cradle so you just unplug sensors, remove clutch cable, undo bell housing bolts, drop out ns suspension from the top mount and wishbone, comes out in one piece so saves messing about, and drop the cradle, had 1 out in 25 mins at the scrappy, so is an easy enough job!!!

plus get one hell of a discount on the car

if too much for you to do, let me no asking price and location as im allways after the easy fix's for a bit of pocket change!!

 

cheers for the help guys