Not staying in gear

marvin

Can someone give me an idea on why my car will not stay in second gear.

Put it in second lift off the clutch and it drops out, if I hold the gear stick whilst taking the clutch off you can feel it trying to drop out but I can physicly keep it in if I hold the stick.

Going in for service tuesday so no doubt it will get sorted but what is the likely cause?

Homersimpson

What sort of car is it?

Generally it could be adjustment required to the selector linkage/cable, worn selector forks in the gearbox or worn teeth on the gears in the gearbox.

anewman

If it's anything inside the gearbox it's usually cheaper to get a second-hand or reconditioned box.

petrolhead69

Check your engine mounts. hopefully it`s something simple and not worn selector forks/shaft bearings.

movilogo

Gear synchromesh may be damaged - in that case it just requires a new synchromesh.

vaio

movilogo wrote: »

Gear synchromesh may be damaged - in that case it just requires a new synchromesh.

Synchromesh is to do with gear engagement not staying in gear, as other have said selector forks or linkage is the most likely cause but in any event “just” is not a word I’d attach to fitting new synchromesh which needs an entire box strip down.

Assuming you can find someone who can actually do it (most mechanics are parts changers rather than repairers), the labour costs and materials (gaskets, seals, bearings etc) would be way more than the cost of a second hand box.

movilogo

Well my car had exactly same problem [also in 2nd gear] and dealer said synchromesh problem. Thankfully, since mine was under warranty, sorted without any problem.

petrolhead69

if one of the engine mounts is broken and the car is accelerating the engine and gearbox rocking back and forward can knock the linkage out of gear. check that first as it`s the easiest thing to check for