Is it new clutch time? Gear lever all gone floppy!!

[roton600]

I think its new clutch time?

406 HDi 90 Estate 163000 miles

Changing gear is getting quite difficult, very notchey and the biting point is virtually at the top when i release the peddle.

had the car a year and its been very relible, only had to fix airbag warning light, one headlight bulb, front discs and pads and service.

The previous owner had the clutch changed by Mr Clutch 2yrs 2 months ago 23000 miles ago...i have the receipt...typical its a 2yr and 20000 mile warranty!!!!

Wont be going there to get it fixed! unless I try my luck and see if they will do a deal as it should last longer!!

Is there any adjustment on it?

Just got recovered home as the gear lever has gone all floppy and cant select any gears? The clutch pedal still works as it should.

Gear lever to gear box linkage broken or come off? Would this also have caused the stiffness in selecting the gears?

Any thoughts?

Going out to have a look now.

Am I looking at about £300 to get it fixed by a decent place?

[Gary406]

ye ususaly around the 300 mark for a new clutch fitted, it pays to shop around tho, i got my 1998 1.9 td done for 180 quid, 1st garage wanted 300 +vat,

[steve_earwig]

I don't think a floppy gear lever is going to have much to do with the clutch. 406 Pug hydraulic clutches always seem to bite somewhere near the top. I suppose the acid test is can you get it to slip?

[helmik]

Floppy gear lever sounds like linkage to me. Could also explain the stiffness selecting a gear so that needs sorting first. Have a look around the top of the gearbox to see if you can find a link rod come adrift, the ball will be sitting there with nowt on it and the rod will be dangling somewhere. It will probably pop back on but if its gone once it'll go again.

Hope this helps and that i'm not talkin crap!!

Mick.

[barryj75]

on the hdi engines the gear change is cable operated abit like brake cables on a bike with age they start to fray making gear changes stiff and in time they snap then you carnt get any gears

[roton600]

Thanks guys for the information, going have a look in the morning and see if i can do anything, otherwise have to get a mobile mechanic out to have a look and fix it.

[steve_earwig]

on the hdi engines the gear change is cable operated

On the HDi 110 (ML5T) it is yes but on the HDi 90 (BE4R) it's rods. Or rather 1 rod, with lots of little linkages which'll have plenty of scope for wearing out and/or falling off.

This might give you some clues:

[barryj75]

my 1999 v reg 90hp is cable operated but had re con box last year before i got it got me thinking now

[steve_earwig]

I've not come across Service Box being wrong yet, unhelpful yes, but not wrong (I wouldn't be that shocked though). I suppose the question is has someone put a petrol 'box in your car?

[puggy]

Steve can you be a sweetheart and put up the exploded view of
a glx drivers seat with airbag and electric adjust but no memory

[barryj75]

would it mater if had petrol box on it?

[steve_earwig]

It'd have higher ratios, might make you car a tad slow but I wouldn't have though it would have made it as interesting to drive as putting a diesel box in a petrol...

[mjb]

This definitely sounds like a linkage issue. With only 20k since the clutch change, any problems there would almost certainly involve bad vibrations and/or the pedal sinking to the floor

[roton600]

Thanks guys for all the advice, i have a mobile mechanic out tomorrow morning to have a look and find out the problem He says it will be a linkage problem, probably a ball joint come off. May need replacing depending how bad it is

[roton600]

Hi,

The two No3 and No 4 linkages need replacing as in the diagram above. the No 3 are £12 each , the No 4 is £18, unforunately the No 4 is not in stock at my local Stealers, but will be in Thursday, so will be all back up and running friday. Fitting will be about £65 so pretty good and the guys is really helpful, said the clutch is about 40% worn, so plenty of life left for now.

Thanks again for all your help