Gear lever failed
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- 2.0 HDI 110
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Gear lever failed
I have spent the past couple of days installing and wiring up a towbar in my 2.2 hdi estate, all was going well and i wanted to drive the car down to a trailer to test all worked. When driving it the gear lever suddenly felt as if something broke and it now seems to be stuck in 1st gear. The cables at the gearbox end seem to be all attached, but it feels like something in the box under the gearstick has failed, has anyone ever had to work on these?
- steve_earwig
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Re: Gear lever failed
Oh bugger
Afraid the only failure I seem to remember was a cable popping off the actuator outside the gearbox.

Unskilled meddling sin©e 2007
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- Doggy
- Mod with a 2.2 HDi, De-Fapped!
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Re: Gear lever failed
I changed one on a 307 years ago. It had a similar problem, bought a lever + cables assembly from an internet scrappy.
It was a proper PITA to swap the gearlever end, but the gearbox was simple after taking out the battery/box. There was a huge grommet thingy carrying all 3 cables through the bulkhead that was murder to press back in.
I'd suggest getting clear access to the 'box end and making certain you have a cable that's not moving,
one does the left/right movement of the stick, one the front/rear movement, the third is the reverse inhibit worked by the lift-ring round the stick
Looks like a pain to get the lever assy out, (never done it, but I think you'll have to remove at least the DPF & heat shield, possibly the CAT too as the 406 version mostly lives under the car).
Never tried to find out what went wrong at the lever end, maybe should have, (if accessible).
We hired a Fiat Ducato-based campervan last year, that wound up stuck in 5th on a French dual carriageway. That beast had a dash mounted gearlever, managed to prise off the gaiter and push the errant cable back onto its control lever. Unfortunately the Pug version looks like sealed box.
Best of luck.....
It was a proper PITA to swap the gearlever end, but the gearbox was simple after taking out the battery/box. There was a huge grommet thingy carrying all 3 cables through the bulkhead that was murder to press back in.
I'd suggest getting clear access to the 'box end and making certain you have a cable that's not moving,
one does the left/right movement of the stick, one the front/rear movement, the third is the reverse inhibit worked by the lift-ring round the stick
Looks like a pain to get the lever assy out, (never done it, but I think you'll have to remove at least the DPF & heat shield, possibly the CAT too as the 406 version mostly lives under the car).
Never tried to find out what went wrong at the lever end, maybe should have, (if accessible).
We hired a Fiat Ducato-based campervan last year, that wound up stuck in 5th on a French dual carriageway. That beast had a dash mounted gearlever, managed to prise off the gaiter and push the errant cable back onto its control lever. Unfortunately the Pug version looks like sealed box.
Best of luck.....
2002 HDi 2.2 Exec Estate, (2008-12) (wonderful)
2003 HDi 2.2 6-speed Exec Estate (2012-19) (also a gem)
2009 Citroen C5 2.0 HDi VTR+ Estate (godawful heap)
2008 BMW E91 330i touring (great fun - murdered by a reversing SUV)
2007 BMW E91 325i touring (slower smoother quieter)
2003 HDi 2.2 6-speed Exec Estate (2012-19) (also a gem)
2009 Citroen C5 2.0 HDi VTR+ Estate (godawful heap)
2008 BMW E91 330i touring (great fun - murdered by a reversing SUV)
2007 BMW E91 325i touring (slower smoother quieter)
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- 2.0 HDI 110
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Re: Gear lever failed
Problem Solved;
While the cables were connected to the gear linkages on the box there is a bit further back a bracket that the cables presumably push against. This popped out, i think a clip held it in place, a couple of cable ties sorted it.
Was a good excuse to get the yoke back on the lift to do the air doser bypass and other such 2.2 necessities.
While the cables were connected to the gear linkages on the box there is a bit further back a bracket that the cables presumably push against. This popped out, i think a clip held it in place, a couple of cable ties sorted it.
Was a good excuse to get the yoke back on the lift to do the air doser bypass and other such 2.2 necessities.
- Doggy
- Mod with a 2.2 HDi, De-Fapped!
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Re: Gear lever failed
Good result there



2002 HDi 2.2 Exec Estate, (2008-12) (wonderful)
2003 HDi 2.2 6-speed Exec Estate (2012-19) (also a gem)
2009 Citroen C5 2.0 HDi VTR+ Estate (godawful heap)
2008 BMW E91 330i touring (great fun - murdered by a reversing SUV)
2007 BMW E91 325i touring (slower smoother quieter)
2003 HDi 2.2 6-speed Exec Estate (2012-19) (also a gem)
2009 Citroen C5 2.0 HDi VTR+ Estate (godawful heap)
2008 BMW E91 330i touring (great fun - murdered by a reversing SUV)
2007 BMW E91 325i touring (slower smoother quieter)
- Welly
- The moderator formally known as Welton
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Re: Gear lever failed
Apparently the gear selector shizzle is one of the first things to be assembled at the factory so no wonder they're a pain to work on later.
Cars in my care:
2021 Kia Spottage 1.6 Pez Turbo Dual Clutch Gearbox Trickery
2013 Renner Twingo - donkey work
2021 Kia Spottage 1.6 Pez Turbo Dual Clutch Gearbox Trickery
2013 Renner Twingo - donkey work