Problem Gearchange 2003 C3 Petrol 1.4

[Ballykine43]

car is a 2003 C3 1.4 SX PETROL Manual

 

Problem. Difficult gearchange, esp three to four, and also engaging reverse. Not stiff, no rasping, just as if there was not enough travel in the mechanism to allow the gears to engage.

 

Local Citroen garage very helpful but unable to locate obvious problem area. Problems on the HDi linkage are documented in the Service Instructions, but it is different to the Petrol one. Other postings on this forum seem to relate to the HDi which has a different linkage, but possibly the same gear lever mechanism/housing. Was the plastic piece others have referred to at the gearstick end or the gearbox end ?

 

Help appreciated.

 

Brian

[flitwick]

car is a 2003 C3 1.4 SX PETROL Manual

 

Problem. Difficult gearchange, esp three to four, and also engaging reverse. Not stiff, no rasping, just as if there was not enough travel in the mechanism to allow the gears to engage.

 

Local Citroen garage very helpful but unable to locate obvious problem area. Problems on the HDi linkage are documented in the Service Instructions, but it is different to the Petrol one. Other postings on this forum seem to relate to the HDi which has a different linkage, but possibly the same gear lever mechanism/housing. Was the plastic piece others have referred to at the gearstick end or the gearbox end ?

 

Help appreciated.

 

Brian

Yes its at the gearbox end had mine replaced twice now metal with a swivel joint much better

[Ballykine43]

Yes its at the gearbox end had mine replaced twice now metal with a swivel joint much better

 

Thanks Flitwick. The difference between petrol and diesel linkages is at the gearbox end so I now know not to be looking for something plastic in the gearstick end.

 

We changed the gearbox oil for a fully synthetic gear oil and the problem seems to have disappeared. Advice came from another dealer who had similar good results with a Picasso.

[graysclassics]

car is a 2003 C3 1.4 SX PETROL Manual

 

Problem. Difficult gearchange, esp three to four, and also engaging reverse. Not stiff, no rasping, just as if there was not enough travel in the mechanism to allow the gears to engage.

 

There is no adjustment possible. Gears are selected by a pair of cables, they are complicated affairs and have a plastic fitting two thirds of the way along the cable. These are clipped into a bracket on the gearbox. You have to pull back a white sprung loaded plastic pin and lift the plastic fitting upwards to release them. They are colour coded. They are easily damaged being plastic, so make sure they are intact, if they are cracked, they wont operate properly. Check they havent been bodged up by someone trying to cable tie them to the clamps. If you have to change them, they are a pain in the ar** especially trying to get the gearlever gaitor back on..