Can't change gear

[MrRegieRitmo]

Ok, who's good with diagnosing possible gearbox / clutch problems? Basically the R9 has always had an awkward gear change (stiff 1st, reverse always crunching) but in the last week or so it had got noticeably worse, giving me resistance in 4 out of 5 gears. Then this afternoon I found that I was having to force it into 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th, for some reason 5th remained unaffected, I didn't try any reversing but predict it wouldn't be any worse (or better) than normal. By some point along the journey I couldn't get into 1st at all so had to pull off in 2nd which was awkward but I got away with it by keeping momentum, came unstuck at one point after a standing start but had no choice other than to rev the nuts off it in order to get going! Managed to get home somehow (that's one thing about this car, it's never left me stranded!) but now it's here, it appears it won't be going anywhere else under it's own steam as I couldn't get it into 1st at all in order to straighten up so I had to 'dump' it where it came to a stop outside the house. I believe it had had a new clutch not too long before I got it & to me the fact it can still go into 5th without any fuss suggests it can't be a clutch problem as surely it would be all or nothing! Ideas, confirmation of knackered gear box etc gratefully received, if not welcome!?

[Albert Ross]

Sounds like the release side of things. If a cable, it may have stretched or popped out of the routing, if hydraulic, I would suspect fluid leaks, either master or slave. I never remember whats fitted to these, I think it's a cable, but could be very wrong!

[Mr Lobster]

Possibly the cable at fault, Renault clutch cables aren't the worlds most reliable items or maybe gear linkage worn?

[MrRegieRitmo]

So nothing scary & expensive? (please say no...)

[Volksy]

IIRC Renault Nilevens have a 'self adjusting' clutch cable, It should have a plastic ratchet type affair buried at the end of the cable by the pedal. I'm not sure how you prompt them into action, but when it works it clicks as it takes up the slack. The plastic ratchets do wear and slip, making it difficult to engage gears. They're not an expensive part, but are a bugger to fit. Maybe Mr Reno will know more.

[Station]

Sounds like the linkage (the bit between the rod to the gearstick and the rod on top of the gearbox).Mine went when I went down to London on NYE (not before a coolant hose exploded at 11pm in the centre of London). I had to mess around and found the pin that links the bracket had disintegrated so used the pin from the hinge of the rear seat. Good job I brought tools.So, yeah, have a good look at the linkage (if it's FWD that is).

[shite_meister]

Just thinking outside the (gear)box here but what about problems with your left hand and/or left leg?

[mouseflakes]

As Sir Barkin says - try with the engine not running - if it's still difficult then it's probably the linkage - if it only happens with the engine running than it's probably clutch-related - most likely the cable if the clutch is recent. Volksy is right - it's a self adjuster at the top of the pedal, but it might just need a bit of help to take up the slack? I'm not familiar with them myself.I'd say the least likely cause is a problem within the box itself.Of course - you could always just get the R14 back on the road Reg!!

[MrRegieRitmo]

Ok I followed your advice earlier & the result is that the gears are all fine with the car switched off but when it's running I can only get 5th & possibly reverse! Very strange! At least that means the box must be ok. So anyway I've booked it in with the mechanic on Tues, Mon if they can fit me in for hopefully just a problem with the clutch cable! Fingers crossed. Thanks for your advice.Tim, I will get the 14 up & running again but not to take over daily duties as I got the other cars in order to relieve it of that responsibility. My aim is for it to become a dry weather & weekend car & take it to more shows in the future. (especially now knowing that there are apparently only 32 of them left on the road, although my question is - where are they all??)

[pandamonium]

I had the same with my Mazda 323 (H85MJT - R.I.P.) and as soon as I changed the clutch is was fine. Unfortunately on my first test run with the new clutch in, someone in a Focus drove into the side of it and wrote it off.

[MrRegieRitmo]

Unfortunately on my first test run with the new clutch in, someone in a Focus drove into the side of it and wrote it off.

Isn't that just typical, did you spend much on it? Bit like my mum's old Saab 900, I think it passed it's last MOT 2 weeks before it gave up living & wasn't worth fixing. Can't remember what was up with it, I was only about 8 but I remember it went into the 'care' of friends of the family who ran a local garage & all I know is I never saw it again, must have been scrapped.

[Guest]

I will get the 14 up & running again but not to take over daily duties as I got the other cars in order to relieve it of that responsibility. My aim is for it to become a dry weather & weekend car & take it to more shows in the future. (especially now knowing that there are apparently only 32 of them left on the road, although my question is - where are they all??)

THIRTY-two? I'd be surprised if there's as many as TWO taxed at the moment! I suppose there could be another thirty on SORN...

[pandamonium]

Bought car for 200, clutch cost 200 - Other driver's insurance paid out £427!

[MrRegieRitmo]

Guess you were upset only briefly then...

[MrRegieRitmo]

I will get the 14 up & running again but not to take over daily duties as I got the other cars in order to relieve it of that responsibility. My aim is for it to become a dry weather & weekend car & take it to more shows in the future. (especially now knowing that there are apparently only 32 of them left on the road, although my question is - where are they all??)

THIRTY-two? I'd be surprised if there's as many as TWO taxed at the moment! I suppose there could be another thirty on SORN...

Well mine's one of those 30!

[pandamonium]

Guess you were upset only briefly then...

My youngest was more upset - the other car hit directly the door where he was sitting!

[MrRegieRitmo]

I will get the 14 up & running again but not to take over daily duties as I got the other cars in order to relieve it of that responsibility. My aim is for it to become a dry weather & weekend car & take it to more shows in the future. (especially now knowing that there are apparently only 32 of them left on the road, although my question is - where are they all??)

THIRTY-two? I'd be surprised if there's as many as TWO taxed at the moment! I suppose there could be another thirty on SORN...

I suggest you check out page 7 (I think) of the May Practical Classics for a smallish article on the 14 from their 'Endangered Species' series!

[Guest]

I will get the 14 up & running again but not to take over daily duties as I got the other cars in order to relieve it of that responsibility. My aim is for it to become a dry weather & weekend car & take it to more shows in the future. (especially now knowing that there are apparently only 32 of them left on the road, although my question is - where are they all??)

THIRTY-two? I'd be surprised if there's as many as TWO taxed at the moment! I suppose there could be another thirty on SORN...

I suggest you check out page 7 (I think) of the May Practical Classics for a smallish article on the 14 from their 'Endangered Species' series!

Will see if I can take a dekko at the piece - however, I (rightly or wrongly) tend to form my own assessment of a vehicle's relative rarity judging by how often it appears on Ebay, and I'm not aware of any Fourteens ever becoming available this way... At least two Tagoras though, and you can't tell me there's at least 32 of THOSE on the road

[MrRegieRitmo]

Well.....I've been given the good news.Anybody know how much I can expect to be stung for a replacement clutch??

[pogweasel]

Hmm, so it IS the clutch, i.e. the most expensive / labour intensive part of the 'system', and something that as a non-spannerer can neither see or touch. Funny that. I would suggest a second opinion, as all the free advice suggested otherwise - really wouldn't wish for you to get bum-raped for several hundred quid by some unscrupulous garage type. Or why not try having a bash yoursel, you've got other stuff you can get to work in, why not bring out the renner or ritmo while the weather's nice!?

[Mr Lobster]

As Pog says, I'd get a second opinion. It might be that it does need a clutch but then again it could be a garage trying to find a bit of extra work for themselves. Depends on your relationship with the garage and how much you trust them.If it is the clutch, I would imagine you'll be looking into the jaws of a £200 - £250 bill I'm afraid.

[Albert Ross]

If you were closer I would do it for you! Beer and cakes would suffice for payment, as long as there's a bog!

[MrRegieRitmo]

It's tricky because we've used this garage for over 10 yrs for all of our cars, myself & my mum are both very known to them, well him the owner.All the local taxi firms get their cars done there so they wouldn't go somewhere unscrupulous.Only thing is when I rang them for an update, the guy who answered went & asked what the situation was for me & then I had the boss on the phone telling me it was a suspected clutch in their opinion but asked if I could ring him back the same time tomorrow & he'd have some more information for me. I said that I'd been told the clutch had recently been done when got the car so they obviously don't last very long, could he tell whether it had been done recently at all but he said he hadn't seen it, one of the other guys had been looking at it. So from my point of view I'm relying on what one of his staff has said rather than the guy we know there (the owner) so don't know whether it's possible one of this staff might be trying to milk me??I'm hoping it will be anything upto £200, but £200-250 is the sort of figure I have in mind as the top amount I'd be prepared to pay so I'll see what he says later today because more than that & I should surely have to cut my losses. It wouldn't feel so bad if it wasn't just 2 -3 weeks after I'd shelled out for a new starter motor for it!Jim, if you're serious I'm sure we could put you up if needs be! Paying your petrol would surely be a cheaper option than the garage bill!

[nigel bickle]

Reg-I'll give it a quick decko-ifithelps, and I'm sure we could get it to MR Reno-if needed#Shout if you need me.

[MrRegieRitmo]

Right - rang the garage earlier today & they told me the car was ready for collection, they'd repaired it. Apparently it was only the clutch cable afterall so only a £45 bill for repair. Although they don't know how long the repair will last, might be only temporary so the suggestion is to find a replacement cable ASAP & get it fitted. The clutch apparently isn't too clever but still works. Have to say I'm quite relieved, just hope it stays working! Thanks for eveyone's input. Nigel, as things stand I still have a working clutch, I could still bring it over if you think it needs a second look, I don't know if it is on borrowed time but watch this space. Once I've got a cable which I should hopefully be able to pick up on eBay, it shouldn't cost too much for my garage to fit should it? I think I paid about £60 something a few years ago for a replacement clutch cable on the Fiesta although that must have included the cost of a cable as well.

[Volksy]

Honest of them!I'd be pricing up a new ratchet and cable, but doubt they are hugely expensive.I'd also ask for an explination of what the garage has done, so at least you know.

[nigel bickle]

Post a 'wanted ad' on the Renault forums-if no one has one you'll prob get a part number...

[Mr Lobster]

Reg, I'll have a look in PR900 book tonight, see if that quotes a part number for it.

[MrRegieRitmo]

Picked the car up yesterday, or rather - tried to! Clutch down into gear "crack", "crunch", 'oh that doesn't sound good', 'let's try again', another "snap", 'can't get it into reverse, need to get out of this layby, gear won't go in, just' "graunch, graunch, graunch"! 'Ok better stop now as it's getting embarrassing!' '1 more try and "SNAP" after which the clutch pedal goes floppy and sinks to the floor! Perfect, hadn't even moved an inch and it's broken again! Back into the garage I trudge, 'oh that's strange, we gave it a test drive & everything!?' 'Give us a ring in the morning & I'll see if we can sort it out' Rang this morning, 'yep you definitely need a new cable, we couldn't do anything with the existing one this time. We'll look after the car, you track down a cable & bring it down & we'll fit it for you.'

 

Right, I've looked & there's a few on eBay - question is, which one do I want?? (and does it really matter?)

 

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/renault%209%20cl ... ble&_naf=1

[MrRegieRitmo]

Ok, well I've gone for this one, seemed like a good bet. Fingers crossed!

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0340288196