Club 80-90 Forums

1st and 2nd gear failing to engage. Mechanic for AA attempted fix by greasing linkage but no good. Says problem must be inside box as he managed to get in gear by hand. 3rd and 4th and reverse are fine, normal. Need a fix please. Stuck in Scotchland. As nice as it is we'll need to get home one day....to Anglesey. Thanks in advance

Where in Scotland? It's an awfy big place so it is, but if you narrow it down someone might recommend a garage nearby...

Cheers Roger. Its in ADS VW specialists in Alexandria. Really good recommendation from family up here.

he got it into gear by hand? is that including 1st and 2nd? if so then im pretty sure it wouldn't be the box.

Check that the bar the gear linkage fits over at the gearbox end isn't bent as that can cause it to sit squiffy and not engage gears (has a 19mm nut on the back of it i believe)

If you need bits, Mcgill on here isn't to far from where you are and might have what you need, don't have his number sorry, gl getting it sorted.

Cheeky V wrote:he got it into gear by hand? is that including 1st and 2nd? if so then im pretty sure it wouldn't be the box.

Check that the bar the gear linkage fits over at the gearbox end isn't bent as that can cause it to sit squiffy and not engage gears (has a 19mm nut on the back of it i believe)

will do ty

REGGAJ wrote:If you need bits, Mcgill on here isn't to far from where you are and might have what you need, don't have his number sorry, gl getting it sorted.

Ty very much

it is possible the shaft of the relay lever has parted company with the lever which would allow you to appear to have selected 1st or 2nd gear but not actually got the gears, full rebuild job, no quick fix possible.
To diagnose yourself at the gearbox where the cup and ball are joined together push the ball into the gearbox 7mm (ie half the available movement against the spring pressure) and then forward or back to engage the gear, then start engine with clutch in and see if when released you have gear, or not

can't thank you enough

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=134514" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


just wondering if this box would be, if needed, suitable?

Its gone, burst, broken. So need to source a box asap as we're stuck in Scotland and really don't want to leave the van here. Exceptionally gutted.

Don't know if its any help, but if your needing storage for your van till you source a box or get it off the road etc, im not too far away and have a secure unit on a farm that i rent, your more than welcome to use it, also have access to a car trailer if needed.