Whats wrong with my car?

irishguy

Sometimes when I put the car into reverse I get a grinding sound (like the gears a grinding together) the clutch is fully depressed. Dont have any problem in any other gear.
The other thing I have noticed (not sure if its related) the gear stick seems quite loose, which it didnt before. So what could be wrong. Dont tell me I need a new gearbox/clutch
Btw its a 99 astra 1.4

Hal1

At a guess I would say it could be the clutch cable. It's cheap to replace and shouldn't take long to have installed. Well that's what I would look at first as cheapest to do.

tommygun999

That happens most cars if the car is still moving when you try and put it into reverse. Next time it happens make sure the car isn't rolling, put it into neutral and try again.

turnsoutIwas

Try coming up and back down on the clutch and see if that lets it go in. A lot of cars I've had seem to work this way...

Darragh29

tommygun999 wrote: »

That happens most cars if the car is still moving when you try and put it into reverse. Next time it happens make sure the car isn't rolling, put it into neutral and try again.

You don't have a synchromesh on your reverse gear, so if the car is moving at all, forward or backward, and you try to put it into reverse, because there is no synchromesh on the reverse gear, you will get grinding when trying to select reverse. If you are getting this when the car is 100% stopped, then you might have a problem with your clutch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_transmission

firefly08

I have the same model and it happens to me when selecting reverse too. It only happens now and again though, and I think it's mainly when the gearbox is cold.

My car has done this for quite a while and it hasn't gotten any worse, so I'm not gonna worry about it!

Overall I find the gear change in this car is not very smooth when it's cold. I have read that changing the gearbox oil makes a big difference, but i have never gotten round to it.

mike65

Cold gearoil why changes can be rough, the best solution to this is to change gear slowly/deliberatly until warmed though.

Type 17

If the car has a clutch cable (rather than an hydraulic circuit), the cable needs adjusting - the clutch isn't releasing fully.

Synchromesh on the forward gears masks this issue, but reverse has no synchromesh, so you'll hear crunching.

If the clutch is hydraulic, and you're still getting crunching, then either the clutch needs attention, or the clutch master or slave cylinder may be failing.

irishguy

Thanks all.Ill mention it to the mechanic at the next service. Will this grinding cause any problems?

Type 17

irishguy wrote: »

Will this grinding cause any problems?

If it is just a small noise with no 'thump' as you engage reverse, then it should be fine for a while, but if you feel a thump through the car or gear-stick, or you have to push it a bit harder than the other gears to engage it, then you should get it checked soon enough.

My dad's old RWD Starlet had the minor noise for many years, but when it began to get worse (a bit of a thump as the reverse cog stopped the other gearbox shaft from spinning), we knew it was time to sort it out. Cable adjusted and the 'box is still fine at 160k miles.

tomister

i have a 01 Astra and i get the same thing but i don't get it all the time. my friend is a mechanic and he checked it over but he says its grand and there is no wear on the gear, i think its just a fault with the car.