Struggling to change gear whilst driving. Any ideas

I'm on the Isle of Wight and for some reason it has become very very hard to change gear whilst driving. Journey down was fine.

I can eventually get a gear but they seem at a different angle on the gear stick or take some real effort to engage the gear.

I can select all gears as normal when the engine isn't running, but struggling to get it into 1st or 2nd when driving. 2nd to 3rd isn't too bad, 3rd to 4th seems fine.

I've rung a Vw mechanic on the Isle. I have a spare clutch cable but no ramps and less technical knowhow!

Clutch peddle squeaks badly, I can push it in quite a bit before there is resistance.

Any ideas?

Does the clutch cable simply just need adjusting?

Crap reception, any help appreciated!

 

the coupling to the transmission , maybe broke ,
look where it meets the yolk it coulb be sheared of but looking like its in one piece,
get under it and have someone shift the gears will you shine a light one it.
look cafully its one piece ...

 

Adjust the wingnut on the clutch cable . Nearside of the gearbox , have someone press the clutch whilst your looking and you'll see the arm moving whilst you lay in tje gutter . Turn the wingnut CLOCKWISE (looking From the back) to tighten the cable . This should take up slack in the cable and lift the biting point up .
This MAY help if it isn't a mechanical issue woth the clutch / gearbox .
Clutch cable could be on its way out though ...
Easy to change - even easier if you ring the AA and let them do it

 

I've got the front belly pan off and had a look. Could the 'gear selection plate' just need re positioning or adjusting?

The clutch itself has done less than 10k miles.

 

Should of got a t4 or t5 !

 

Try adjust the cable ..... FIRST !

Don't clutch at straws !!

 

Don't faff. Locate the linkage at the front where the front shift rod and main rod that runs to the back join. There is a square heade bolt pitching them together. Get someone to waggle or move the gear lever and make sure there's no sop there.

Next check the gearshift coupling onto the gearbox. Ie where the front to back shift rod is attached to the shaft that goes int the gearbox. This is a soft coupling ie it has rubber inserts. Again observe and check for excessive play. Ie when someone moves the gearstick for you that all the parts move as one and there isn't a lot of play.

If it is just that the clutch cable is on the way out then the biting point will have moved and will be with the pedal higher up than normal. Usually when this is significant ie it happens quite quickly ove a hundred miles or so it is due to the cable repaying somewhere and it is likely to give up and snap altogether shortly. It usually goes near the gearbox where it exits the metal conduit and enters the flexible outer that you can see.

Hope this makes sense but if it's just a clutch cable it's a cheap and easy fix as a rule.

 

I am on the Island and might be able to pop and have a look tomoz ?

 

Wow that would be amazing if you could, but I don't want to put you out on your holiday. I can always try the rac and have rung a Vw mechanic on the Isle. I'm at Stoats Farm which is between Freshwater and Alum bay my number is if you happen to be nearby. Thanks

 

Flipping cheek lol, I live here. It will probably be around 10 ish in the morning.

 

Was it Rob you rang in Cowes ?

 

@Dicky I'll try that in the morning. I'm not very technical and don't have many tools, so hope it isn't beyond me! Not worried about it being an expensive job, but use of gears would definitely be good whilst on holiday!

 

I'd have no chance of fixing a t4 or t5 on the island though! They probably wouldn't drive with such issues, but my bay kept moving and I think I could still get it home even if I can't get it fixed here!

 

Front bushing and rear coupling are the more dramatic popular failures .
Mine coupling cracked at wherehe round meets the squrae part.
If the shifter is sloppy and hitting the park brake in third its the front bushing.
The tab on the plate gets smoothed out but thats a reverse issue...

 

You either have two problems or you could be imagining one of them. My money is on the clutch cable breaking and getting longer so the clutch is dragging making the gears hard to select and also making you think there's something up with the shift.
Or there may now be something wrong with the shift after having to force it into gear. I would look at the whole gear lever having slipped. Some designs inc the common quick shift are frankly badly designed leaving you to clamp down the shifter against a void. The can never be tight and repeated re-tightening dishes the metal making adjustment impossible until straightened.
I predict you have an aftermarket shifter or a quick shift plate and the cable is breaking where it exits the steel conduit on the rear torsion tube.

 

I've a stock gear shifter, no idea about the shift plate. I'll double check cable tomorrow, but I think the cable is still intact the whole way back. It's definitely still attached and moving half way back where it disappears into conduit again.

 

@3901mick is coming to have a look in the morning. What a legend! Thanks for all the helpful suggestions. What a great forum.

I'll update, when I can

 

I don't doubt it's still attached, but if you clutch pedal moves a long way before offering resistance, it won't have enough travel to fully operate the clutch, the clutch will drag and the gears will be harder to select. I have this all the time Paul, "my gears are hard to select" - When it turns up the clutch bites an inch off the floor.

While you could just adjust it, it will break at some point so better to put a new cable on it now. Or find other reason for pedal change:
Conduit bracket snapped off torsion tube
Bracket on gearbox fixing bolts thread stripped and bracket loose.
Or very bad luck and associated clutch release bearing noises - arm snapped off clutch operating shaft.

 

Nice one @zed. I appreciate it. I've got a spare clutch cable with me as well!

 

My money is on that too. however you may possibly have disturbed the shifter thrutching it into gear if its not been quite as tightly bolted down as it should. Easy fix if so.