Manual Gearbox woes

[dr.p]

Hope someone can help...had problems selecting first gear especially when engine was warm, had the gearbox oil changed and problem has got a lot worse - now it is very 'sticky' in and out of 1st ,2nd, 3rd and reverse when cold, but problem seems to ease / go away when engine gets warm..?

My clutch makes a slight squeal / repetative squeek and has slipped a couple of times but has been checked and all is apparently ok.

any help, advice please as it is stressing me out.....only had the van 4 months and not enjoying the drive.

Thanks

[Ian]

This is a long shot, but the symptoms you describe are the same as raised by another owner back in the far mists of time, before we even had a forum.

If I remember correctly, it was something to do with worn or broken clutch pressure plate springs, but I can't remember exactly.

[Ralph]

Sounds like the clutch is dragging maybe a oil seal
is leaking on gearbox lay shaft or rear of engine
most likely gear box letting oil on to clutch.
Any sign of oil leak were bell housing bolts
to engine at the bottom.
The fact it got worse after a gear box oil change
points to the oil coming from the box.
Could just as easily be as in Ian's post.

[dandywarhol]

I go with Ralph (not literally y'understand ) - Is the gear selection ok with the engine switched off? If it is then the problem would probably lie in the clutch dept.

Should be a fairly straightforward job to replace on a RWD.

[dr.p]

thanks for quick reply everyone...

Ralph, raining at the moment so difficult to check for oil leak, but will do when i can. I am going to sound stupid but never know if i don't ask - why would it be worse after an oil change?

dandywarhol, yes gear selection is fine with engine off - even with engine idleing. By RWD do you mean rear wheel drive (sorry to sound thick) only i have 4WD.

Ian is the second person to mention clutch pressure plate as a possible cause. I had read a post from some time ago - had problems selecting 1st gear - they had the clutch replaced but to no avail so i don't want to spank my hard earned cash on a pointless change without as much info as possible.

thanks again for swift response

[Ralph]

Oil level could have been low when changed they would
put the right amount in so the level could be higher than
it was and so would tend to leak more.
Problem is it's difficult to diagnose a fault with a stick that's
several miles long with a computer at ether end.
You say it goes into gear OK at tick over? if it goes in
without a crunch that sort off says the clutch is not dragging
and I could be wrong, if it does go in with a crunch then it's
likely the clutch is dragging and the difficulty is that if it is dragging
it is still trying to drive the car but as you change gear the
gearbox synchromesh tries to match the speed of the gears so
you get a smooth change if it cant do this because it's being
driven the gears become difficult to engage.
Hope this helps.

[smartmonkey]

It does sound like a clutch rather than gearbox problem. If the Bongo clutch is adjustable try that first. If not I would pop the box out and have a look. The garage may have put the wrong oil in and this would highlight any problems. Get it fixed quickly otherwise you will wear out the synchro hubs and the selector forks.

[dr.p]

once again thanks for replies.

stopped raining, just had a look and there does appear to be some oil but
can't be totally sure exactly where it might come from, will investigate further later - need to go to work soon.

the oil change was by AVA, so i would hope it is the right stuff and the correct amount.

does appear to point towards a clutch problem i agree

[BongoMTBer]

Screeching often points towards a seizing thrust race. This will cause the shifting to be laboured and overload the synchro.

1, Warm the engine and gearbox with a good drive around

2, Put the vehicle in neutral.

3, At idle with the clutch out, you should hear a bit of a gentle rattle/rumble from the gearbox. This is the normal mechanical noise of the gearbox.

4, With your foot on the clutch, the rumble should go away. If it does not, then either your clutch is dragging, or the thrust race is seizing, which will give the same effect.

Note: When you release the clutch again quickly, you may get a little clatter as the gearbox spins again.

Hope this helps.

Sam.

[Mike Vernon]

Hi
This is the fiirst time that I have entered the forum.
Ive had by 95 Black Bongo since May
Normal problems !! Water leaks, drag links etc.

Any way back to the gearbox clutch problem
I had same sort of problem dificult to engage gear etc
I had a new clutch fitted by the supplier of bongo
PRESURE PLATE SPRINGS WERE SHOT IE. RATTELED AND WORN

The clutch is not ajustabe ( all hydrolic )

If you put your head under the drivers side you will see the slave cylinder
Get some washers and get underneath pull the actuator arm back out of the clutch folk and put some washers on it ( ie as spacers )
this will give you more travel

HOPE THIS HELPS

[dr.p]

Lots for me to try, i'll have a drive tomorrow - BongoMTBer - and try what you suggested. At the moment the screech / squeel is very faint until i press clutch slightly then becomes quite audible....depress clutch fully and noise disappears.

Mike, hello and welcome (it's only my 2nd post) your the 3rd to mention pressure plates / springs and i'm guessing from your post that new clutch cured your problem. Is it rude to ask how much this cost you?

thanks again to all for advice, i'll post my findings..!!

[Captainsideways]

Its the CLUTCH!!!!!

Classic symptoms of broken spring, stuck release bearing or sticky thrust bearing.


I bet your car changes gear fine when the engine is stopped

[dr.p]

Captainsideways.....thanks for the emphatic response, guess i'll have to get the clutch replaced then...

thanks again to all for your help and advice, got alot of travelling over xmas / new year and nice to know i might sort the problem before i go.