Cant find any gears?

[PaulaPG]

Hi there again, I took the 1.6td high top I am wanting to purchase for a test drive this morning and I was so dissappointed. It started fine and still looked brill but as soon as I tried to find first (which was in the normal place of 2nd!) it was a nightmare. It was over in the passenger seat and as much as I tried it wouldnt go in. Eventually managed and then had same problem for 2nd (which was where 3rd should be) and 3rd. It did get slightly better and I eventually get 4th and 5th. I didnt imagine the gears to be quite that bad, I had to lean over to the passenger seat to get 1st and reverse. It is a 1986 model but I do not know what conversion. Any advice would be great as the owner took it to a garage to get the linkages changed and they said they were fine.

[Plasticman]

what do you mean in the normal place,,,,,, they are where they should be on a 5sp box
why not get the vendor to take you for a drive and if they can run through the gears with ease then you have part of your answer,
properly set up and in good order the gears are fine to select, it doesnt take much to cause a problem and maybe their "garage" arent experienced with these vans etc,
mm

[blueangel]

Hi Paula,
Not sure if it will help you in any way but if you like we could meet up and you can have a look at our gears .

Chris and Ken

you have pm

[mark]

they can take a while to get used to, but after a couple of hours of driving you will be thinking what was i worrying about. i find if i push down to the left and back 1st is doddle. reverse is push down to the left and forward

mark

[Ian Hulley]

what do you mean in the normal place,,,,,, they are where they should be on a 5sp box
why not get the vendor to take you for a drive and if they can run through the gears with ease then you have part of your answer,
properly set up and in good order the gears are fine to select,

Well said.

Ian

[Palomino]

The 5-speed box does take some getting used to if you're more familiar with a standard car gearbox with short gear lever. I struggled with mine at first but it came with practise after a few days.

Phil

[Fumar]

I had similar problems and had to drive mine home in 3rd gear as there was so much play I couldnt get 4th or 5th.

It was due to the linkage being worn/lose. Just needed a clean and tighten.

I belive its a common problem and quite simple to repair. There is a kit you can buy to refurb linkage. Is also allot of information under the mechanical part of forum I belive.

I wouldnt let it put you of the van if its the only real fault.

[ermie571]

5 speed box...its a marmite thing...you either love it or hate it.

Best thing I can recommend is sitting in the thing without the engine running and work your way up and down the gear box.

Then do it with the engine running...then drive it!

I have a five speed, hubby has the four speed. He hates the five speed - the first to second dog leg is difficult going up hill..... and first really is a slow gear to get you moving....you don't want to be driving far in first!! Diriving 4 speed weird after the 5 speed...all the gears are in the wrong places and there is one missing!!!

Em
x

[California Dreamin]

As long as there are no 'underlying' problems as in: once driving there are no load noises, really bad crunching, whining etc, then this is a 5sp thing....
Of course there are linkage repair kits to remove excess play and make the change more precise.

Martin

[Plasticman]

1st is great for ncrawling in traffic, get it all overhauled and set up correctly, in my case iu have removed certain bits and have a nice open gate with no need to push down or anything, 2345 are all easy as can be and when i need 2 to 1 for big hills (or smaller ones 1.6 na,lol) then its also natural and easy...sounds like an advert there...
mm

[PaulaPG]

Thanks for all the sound advice, all a bit wild if you havent seen or driven one before, big difference to the 4 speed ones I have driven. I think I also got a bit flustered because if I wasnt grabbing the owners leg I was hitting it with the gearstick!!! Fortnately he had a senseof humour