The gear lever normally self centres between 3rd and 4th gear position. When you push across to either 5th / reverse it springs back to centre position, but if you push across to 1st / 2nd it doesn't spring back to centre. Does anyone have any ideas? Is there a spring that pulls it back? If so where is it located? Please can someone help
Cheers Paddy

 

Assuming it's a 1.4, 1.6 or 1.8 then it's the return spring at the base of the gearstick, it will have snapped. It's a common problem and a new spring is about Ł5 from Ford's. It's a fiddly job but it's a fairly straight forward D.I.Y job. You'll need to remove the centre consul to get at it.

 

Hi Hogdog thanks for your reply, the car is a 1.6 engine. Do you know what Ford list the part as, is it just a gearbox return spring? Removing the console top and gearknob exposes the linkage mech do i need to remove the whole console to get to the spring?
Thanks for your help. Cheers Paddy

 

No problem, the part no. is 1142069.

Yeah, you'll need to remove the whole consul, it's not really difficult, the hardest bit is getting it over the handbrake, you'll need to pull that up as high as you can.

If you then move the gearstick around you should be able to see the spring at the base. I think you need to remove some screws to get to it.

For future reference it usually gets broken when you go from reversing to pulling away in first without having fully come to a stop.

 

Many thanks, will get the part and give it go on Saturday.
Cheers Paddy