I’ve been having occasional on and off-track issues with the gearchange in my car since I bought it. Once in a while I won’t be able to get it into gear, mainly downshifting when coming across the gate, so either 5th into 4th, or 3rd into 2nd. It can also be reluctant to come out of gear. I am getting ok at heel and toe, and I am definitely fully depressing the clutch. I have fitted the uprated engine mounts and the gearbox oil has been changed for the race-spec stuff.
Any ideas out there as to what might be the source of this issue?
Ade had something similar on his and a couple of others since. If you are moving slowly and going from first to reverse, does it occasionally not let you take it out of gear? If so it appears that the clutch centre plate gets partially stuck on the input shaft, so although you have pressed the clutch, there is enough drag to keep the gearbox loaded, but not enough for any drive. Same kind of thing can be reproduced when you’re driving - coasting in a gear or accelerating, its almost impossible to move the gearlever into neutral, however if you just slightly bump the throttle, there’s a sweetspot between accelerating and coasting where there is no load through the gearbox and it will slide out like you have pressed the clutch.
Gearbox out, clean all splines and lubricate slightly with the appropriate stuff is the next step sadly.
Agree with JDS, insufficient grease on the input shaft clutch spline can result in the clutch plate not disengaging smoothly, causing drag that keeps the synchro loaded while trying to shift. Also worth checking that the clutch is bled fully so that you’re getting full stroke when pressing the pedal.
Thanks both. The clutch bleeding sounds like the place to start. I’m not sure I understand what you mean about first to reverse, JDS - I haven’t noticed anything, but I guess I would normally not be moving when doing that. If it’s a gearbox out issue then it may have to wait a little while.
It’s when you’re moving around a car park, 3 point turn sort of thing. Worse case for finding problems with a clutch. Careful if you do take the gearbox out, too much grease is almost as bad as none at all.
Had this same issue driving back from Anglesey Exiges T/D once. Stuck in traffic and couldn’t select any gear at all, I put it down to a hot gearbox.
When I finally managed to select a gear, pulled over and let it cool down and was fine after that.
Thought it very strange at the time
My clutch can semi-engage when hot about an inch off the floor. A bit embarrassing in traffic as you lift to get to the bite point and it’s already started to engage someway before you get there. Double declutch seems to sort.
I guess it could relate to a hot gearbox, but it happened within about 100 yards of leaving the dealership when I bought it (maybe should have driven back!) so it’s not uniquely when hot. I’ll get Steff to have another dig around. Thanks again for all the help.
I recently had the same issues on my RGB. Changing up or down into third was never smooth and occasionally second gear would jam which usually meant coasting to a halt and letting the car cool down for 10 minutes. The annoying element was the lack of consistency, second gear would be normal, then stick. Luckily the car was under warranty and the dealer replaced the TRD clutch unit which was barely worn, their diagnosis was a sticking input shaft, probably due to lack of recent use. Problem since solved.
The gearbox still has it factory filled gloop, however, I will drain and refill with Redline MT90 which seems to be a recommended improvement.
Thanks for tip re the bushes, is it a DIY install that can be done at the same time as the oil change ? I was planning on crawling under the car whilst raised on Levo Artis ramps .
I did investigate the revised LETSLA cables but decided to opt for the oil change, and now the bushes, in the first instance and then review the situation.
