Hi, we have a manual 2.2 GLS (facelift)  I have just gone to move the car and it would not go into gear....any of them.... after sitting and trying and accidently pulling the gear knob off!!!!  I eventually got it into gear, once it in as you drive along it seems to get easier..... apparantly this is a problem we've had for a while and OH leaves it in gear to make it easier first thing.... I don't drive this one usually so didn't know about it...... Can anyone point us in the direction as to what the problem is?  Many thanks in advance  :)

did it crunch when went into gear???, or did the gear not move??

Literally just wouldn't go in, then when it did, if anything it was just stiff, no noise.

it is manual? could be the selector rod under the car or the gear selector has gone in the gear box, can you wiggle the stick.
auto could be anthing so would need to be read on a tec2.

Its a manual, and yes you can wiggle it in neutral to your hearts content  :)

with out the engine running can you change gear easy?

I believe it's called clutch drag.
If it improves when warm then no worries, in summer allshould be ok. It's when it's been stood for a while, 1st and reverse gears being the worse to engage from cold :y.

Mick

Just been out to check, and yes you can bob it about in any of the gears no problem, without the engine running.

dose the clutch feel real easy or hard?

The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)

if real easy would check brake fluid level if low top up and will have to re- bleed the clutch,

Marks DTM Calib wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:10:

The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)

no you should not its dangerous, if cluctch has gone there is a good chance engine will start and any thing can happen, m8 of mine lost his legs cos some one did that and pin'd him into another car.

about eight mechanics die or loose limbs or get seriously hurt a year due to people  leaving the car in gear i remember a  mate getting sacked for leaving a costomers car in gear as the costomer rear ended a new car when he  started it bad idea leaving your car in gear

Can you select gears normally when the car has warmed up?

Mick

Yes Mick AP, they can be selected fine once driven approx 5 mins or so.

Possible causes for the clutch drag are:
- air in the hydraulic clutch release cylinder/pipe
- faulty master cylinder
- broken clutch pressure plate spring
- sticky splines on gearbox input shaft
- broken dual mass flywheel
- chewed up spigot bearing

Air in the hydraulics is the most likely as it is difficult to bleed the Omega clutch properly. The master cylinder is next on the list.

All the other causes need the gearbox out to inspect the entrails so I would bleed the clutch first then fit a new master cylinder if bleeding doesn't work.

rustym95 wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:11:

if real easy would check brake fluid level if low top up and will have to re- bleed the clutch,

this should be your first place to look this a warning backup to let you know the level is low top up then try bleeding it.
if that fails i'd put money on the clutch failing.

Thanks guys you've all been really helpful and given us somewhere to start.  Thanks very much  :y

Marks DTM Calib wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:10:

The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)

after two replies saying otherwise i have to agree with MDTM whenever ive had a manual i always parked it in gear...all you need is the handbrake cable to snap and the car on a slope even a small one and set off rolling without a driver behind the wheel or at the brakes and god knows what could happen

hoofing it wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:46:

rustym95 wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:11: if real easy would check brake fluid level if low top up and will have to re- bleed the clutch, this should be your first place to look this a warning backup to let you know the level is low top up then try bleeding it. if that fails i'd put money on the clutch failing.

warning light only comes on for the brakes as the hole that fills clutch is just below the max mark on the container.

Ok he says it's fine when warm so....
Mine is also difficult to engage in 1st and reverse when stood for more that say 2/3 days in this weather.
Something sticking in there somewhere, then when warm all ok. Mines been like this for over 2 years and still drives fine after that initial warm up, about half a mile or so. I tow with mine and it's fine, the clutch is just as good as when I first owned it.
I don't think you have any worries yet, just leave it in gear if it troubles you, remember to use the handbrake as well when parked.

Mick

wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:58:

Marks DTM Calib wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:10: The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!) after two replies saying otherwise i have to agree with MDTM whenever ive had a manual i always parked it in gear...all you need is the handbrake cable to snap and the car on a slope even a small one and set off rolling without a driver behind the wheel or at the brakes and god knows what could happen

Agreed mate,i have always left mine in gear in the 17 years i have been driving.I returned a hire van sometime last year to burnt tree van hire,and when the bloke got in it to move it,he started it up and shot off right through the gates,and the side of the van hit the gate,and made a bit of a mess of the van,all because i left it in gear ::),but to be fair,when you start any vehicl,you are always taught to check its in neutral. ::)

unlucky mark mv6 wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 21:06:

wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:58: Marks DTM Calib wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:10: The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!) after two replies saying otherwise i have to agree with MDTM whenever ive had a manual i always parked it in gear...all you need is the handbrake cable to snap and the car on a slope even a small one and set off rolling without a driver behind the wheel or at the brakes and god knows what could happen Agreed mate,i have always left mine in gear in the 17 years i have been driving.I returned a hire van sometime last year to burnt tree van hire,and when the bloke got in it to move it,he started it up and shot off right through the gates,and the side of the van hit the gate,and made a bit of a mess of the van,all because i left it in gear ::),but to be fair,when you start any vehicl,you are always taught to check its in neutral. ::)

:y

that is wrong, leving in gear on hill ok,(fault gears or clutch) but starting and engine in gear on purpose wile holding down the clutch is a no no, if you are found to do this you should stop as if you cause an accident due to doing this bye bye licence, hight way code, minimum of six months in prison and licence ban, that is what the person got for starting the engine in gear and causing driving with out due care and attention, he got 6 years. mate got wheel chair.

rustym95 wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 21:32:

that is wrong, leving in gear on hill ok,(fault gears or clutch) but starting and engine in gear on purpose wile holding down the clutch is a no no, if you are found to do this you should stop as if you cause an accident due to doing this bye bye licence, hight way code, minimum of six months in prison and licence ban, that is what the person got for starting the engine in gear and causing driving with out due care and attention, he got 6 years. mate got wheel chair.

as said by markmv6 car in neutral before starting

Marks DTM Calib wrote on 19. Feb 2010 at 19:10:

The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)