Gear change issues

[mab1967]

I have a 300TDI 1998 ES. When changing gear finding extremely difficult to select 1st gear. 3rd and 5th impossible to select. Any ideas????????????????

[Wildpikey]

could be the clutch on its way out? common misconception is that the clutch has to slip for it to be knackered, it could be your pressure plate is giving up not engaging the clutch propperly which is making it difficult for you to select gears.

[mab1967]

That was my first thought but 2nd 4th and Reverse no problem.

[Wildpikey]

That was my first thought but 2nd 4th and Reverse no problem.

Oh right? maybe not so simple then, have you checked the oil? could be something silly like that, could be the selector ball and springs in the top of the gearbox maybe? sometimes they just dry out and get a bit stiff making it difficult to find gears.

[mab1967]

I've finally recovered the lost gears. After stripping the bias plate and springs i removed the gear stick and found a tapered ball on the bottom had fell off and was in the gearbox. Re-fitted re-assembled and all gears returned. file:///C:/Users/HP_ADM%7E1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg

[discofan]

Nothing worse than finding one of your balls has fallen into your gearbox:D!!!