Weird car problem

cusser

Today I had a new motor starter put in to my mother's kia.
When I picked it up I couldn't get into first gear. I managed to get it out of the car park by putting it in reverse, then second gear. I thought it would settle down on the 40 minute drive home, or that perhaps I was doing something wrong.
She drove it then, for a while and couldn't get it into first gear either. My dad tried and claimed he found first gear, but it appeared to me he was using third gear. He did convince me finally that it was first gear.
My other and I are the main drivers and very much familiar with this car. He is not, therefore had less difficulty finding first gear as he was not engaging in a familiar action.
To cut a long story short, it appears the first gear is not as far left of third as it used to be. It is hard to distinguish these gear positions compared to before I had a new starter motor put in.
How is this possible?
Previously first gear entailed shifting the gear stick quite a bit to the left and now it is indistinguishable, position-wise, to third.
When we rang the motor shop, the mechanic implied he doubted our perception on the matter, and we said we would drop it in to be checked out.
However I don't feel like doing this, and am prepared to adapt to the new position rather than go back.
Really just want to know is it possible, some change could have occurred when the new starter motor was put in?

Max Moment

Sounds like you may have disturbed / loosened the gear selector at the gear box. If you take a look down at the gearbox as someone else shifts the affected gears in the car you might see what the issue is.

By any chance would you have loosened / moved anything else as you worked on the starter? Could be something blocking the selector either.

greasepalm

Anything is possible with cars and to where starter motor is in relation to gear change and what has to be done,go back to garage and let them sort it out or expect short life from clutch.

cusser

Max Moment wrote: »

Sounds like you may have disturbed / loosened the gear selector at the gear box. If you take a look down at the gearbox as someone else shifts the affected gears in the car you might see what the issue is.

By any chance would you have loosened / moved anything else as you worked on the starter? Could be something blocking the selector either.

Thanks for your reply.
I know nothing about cars ( female)...
The mechanic who replaced the starter motor must have done something?

cusser

greasepalm wrote: »

Anything is possible with cars and to where starter motor is in relation to gear change and what has to be done,go back to garage and let them sort it out or expect short life from clutch.

Damn. It will be my fifth time going back to them in 5 weeks.

They didn't believe there was a problem with the starter motor, as ignition worked fine for them when doing a service ( the reason I first dropped in the car). I had to go back there and convince them ... Yet, when they finally acknowledged there was an issue, they had to send it to another garage who discovered a part of the starter motor was completely burned out, and rather than recondition it as discussed, suddenly I was told I had to buy a new part!

It has already cost me $950 for service ( my mother hadn't done one for years) and $350 for starter motor.

People are always crapping on about how major service garages are rip-offs, and I have resisted thinking that.

But I am beginning to wonder if they ****ed up the gears deliberately.:(

punisher5112

Go to a good Indy mechanic.

But 1st bring it back and get them to sort it that you can select gears.

I have found similar after a timing belt change.

greasepalm

People neglect cars which is stupid as you will end up buying another one due to non maintenance,regular oil and filter changes will keep your car running,bad old oil wears out engines and fails doe and nct tests.

Starter motor could have had an intermittent fault and started 99 times out of 100 and it might need a bang on starter to start car and fault would be in starter and seen it many times.

Something so small can cause grief and tell them its much harder to get 1st gear since car was returned and i remember a golf in garage had issues slipping out of gear and when bonnet was opened alarm box fell down onto gear shift when moved driving was back to normal.

cusser

greasepalm wrote: »

People neglect cars which is stupid as you will end up buying another one due to non maintenance,l.

I know. I have stepped in, on behalf of my mother who is 'one of those people'.
Regardless...the problem on hand is unrelated to that.
The fact is, the gear positions have been altered. First gear and third gear are indistinguishable, position-wise.
I drove it today. The same hand movement sometimes got me into first, sometimes into third. ..
I'll see what they can do on Monday.

househero

cusser wrote: »

I know. I have stepped in, on behalf of my mother who is 'one of those people'.
Regardless...the problem on hand is unrelated to that.
The fact is, the gear positions have been altered. First gear and third gear are indistinguishable, position-wise.
I drove it today. The same hand movement sometimes got me into first, sometimes into third. ..
I'll see what they can do on Monday.

Do you know anyone that could go in with you?

It's possible you will be charged for something unnecessary

cusser

househero wrote: »

Do you know anyone that could go in with you?

It's possible you will be charged for something unnecessary

My 77yr old mother is going to go in. She is v tough... much more so than I.:D
I doubt they will have the guts to charge her.

greasepalm

Friend of Katie Taylor i wonder omg

cusser

greasepalm wrote: »

Friend of Katie Taylor i wonder omg

All has been sorted.
They admitted there was a problem and fixed it without any drama.

punisher5112

cusser wrote: »

All has been sorted.
They admitted there was a problem and fixed it without any drama.

Great

zilog_jones

cusser wrote: »

I had to go back there and convince them ... Yet, when they finally acknowledged there was an issue, they had to send it to another garage who discovered a part of the starter motor was completely burned out, and rather than recondition it as discussed, suddenly I was told I had to buy a new part!

There are specialists who deal with reconditioning starter motors and alternators, so it's quite normal for a garage to send them off to a specialist. I think you were just unlucky with this one, and the fact they screwed up your gear selector.

Also, intermittent faults are always going to cause yourself grief if they can't be reproduced reliably by whoever you get to look at the car. I usually end up having to fix them myself...