Gear sticking?

Jamie-b

Hi, I was wondering if you could help me. I am only learning to drive and every now and then when I put my car in 1st gear it doesn't go in properly. (5 year old Fiesta) If Im at traffic lights for example and I try to get going it makes a funny sound- I have had to go in and out a few times to get it. Im a much better driver now but it's still happening and my mam who sometimes drives my car noticed it too. Is this just the type of car or does it need to be fixed? I am dreading it happening during my driving test.

slimjimmc

Please elaborate on "I try to get going it makes a funny sound"
Do you hear a crunching/scraping/grinding sound when you are moving the gear lever to put the car in gear or do you hear some strange sound after the car is in gear?

First of all check that there is nothing preventing you pushing the clutch pedal fully down, foor mats are sometimes guilty of this.

Failing that you'll need to see a mechanic. There's no need to go to an expensive main dealer, any car mechanic would be able to sort it for you for cheaper.

Possibilities is descending order of cost:
Clutch fluid level may be too low or has air in the system.
Gearbox oil level too low.
One of the cylinders which the clutch pedal operates is worn.
Gear lever linkage might need adjustment or replacement.
Clutch is worn.
Gearbox is worn.

Jamie-b

Sorry. I mean like I put it into first and it won't move and makes a scraping sound. I have to put in the clutch and try again.

First of all check that there is nothing preventing you pushing the clutch pedal fully down, foor mats are sometimes guilty of this.
There isn't. Once I had to go in and out of first three times until it actually went in so I was very focused on pushing the clutch down fully.

Relating to these:
One of the cylinders which the clutch pedal operates is worn.
Clutch is worn.
Gearbox is worn.
My car only has 20000 miles so I don't think anything is worn out.

fabmorretti

Jamie-b wrote: »

My car only has 20000 miles so I don't think anything is worn out.

Jamie-b wrote: »

I am only learning to drive

You may doing something wrong that is leading to premature wear.

Jamie-b

Maybe I am, but I only have it a few months, drive an hour a few times a week and it happened since I got it. It's not a huge problem. My mam just thinks its the type of gear stick/car. A friend of mine has an older car and theirs pops back oput of gear so I am not concerned about it! It only happens once every so often. I just dont want it to hapen in my test

zilog_jones

I don't think it is something you should ignore - you should get it checked out. This is not normal for such a new car. If for example the gearbox is leaking oil, it's only going to get worse, and new gearboxes are not cheap...

jimmyw

Maybe your clutch is going or may only need adjustment

slimjimmc

Jamie-b wrote: »

Sorry. I mean like I put it into first and it won't move and makes a scraping sound. I have to put in the clutch and try again.

So to clarify..
a) you press clutch, engage 1st gear, gear lever moves properly, let clutch out, the car goes nowhere and you hear a scraping noise?
or
b) you press clutch, try engage 1st gear, gear lever doesn't engage properly and you hear a scraping noise while pushing the gear lever?
or is there a (c) ?

Does this happen in 2nd,3rd or 4th gear?
If not then gearbox oil or gear linkage needs looking at.
If yes then there may be something dodgy about the clutch. Try pumping the clutch pedal a few times while in neutral before engaging 1st gear and see if this improves things.

BTW, wear isn't simply a matter of mileage it's also affected by the type of driving and the style of the driver. 20,000 miles of N or M road driving is much less wearing on clutches than 20,000 miles of stop start city driving, or a driver riding the clutch or letting it slip too much or who changing gears excessively often, etc. Also unless you know the real history of the car you can't be certain the mileage is true, clocking is endemic.

Excessive wear can also be caused by not detecting faults or ignoring them, the old adage "a stitch in time saves nine" holds a lot of truth. Get a mechanic to look at it, if you don't like what you hear get a second opinion.

Jamie-b

So to clarify..
a) you press clutch, engage 1st gear, gear lever moves properly, let clutch out, the car goes nowhere and you hear a scraping noise?
or
b) you press clutch, try engage 1st gear, gear lever doesn't engage properly and you hear a scraping noise while pushing the gear lever?
or is there a (c) ?

Its (a) - think Im in gear but it makes scraping noise and I go nowhere!

Does this happen in 2nd,3rd or 4th gear?

- no but it does in reverse.

If not then gearbox oil or gear linkage needs looking at.

this may br the problem? Will it take a lot of time or money to fix?

slimjimmc

Sounds like something may be causing the gears not to engage properly and when you let the clutch back out they start to grind against each other. This can be caused by a number of things. What I'm thinking is that the linkage is worn and is unable to push the gears together properly. It might need a simple adjustment (cheap & quick) or it might need replacement (unlikely), or it might be something completely different. Low oil can make gears difficult to engage, again cheap & quick.
There might be a gearbox problem or even be something stopping the clutch closing properly. To be honest it's impossible to tell over ADSL that's why I urge you get a pro to look at it, no point worrying over what might be until you get a proper diagnosis.

Good luck with the test.

scudster

If it doesnt engage 1st gear properly, try engaging 2nd gear briefly while clutch is still disengaged and then try 1st again. This can sometimes help.