9 replies to this topic

[beardylondon]

Had the Mainstream Cooper for a week now and I'm having intermittent gear selection issues. Sometimes it just won't go into 1st or 2nd gear, like it is blocked completely, then 5 mins later it slips in very easily, clutch feels ok, any ideas?

[Ethel]

Sometimes the roll pin in the selector linkage can foul if it works its way out a bit. 

[Spider]

It might be the start of the bush in the reverse idler gear coming out.

 

Explore all other options first though.

[cal844]

Check behind the dust cover on the slave cylinder for brake fluid, if the back of the cover is damp change the cylinder.

If the dust cover is dry check the clutch is adjusted correctly.

If the clutch is adjusted check the fluid level and also the colour of the fluid, if its black change the fluid.

You can also look below the cylinder(Where it goes onto the pedal) for moisture, again if there is dampness change the cylinder.


Finally look at the gear selector assembly as the anti leak kits for the selector shaft have a rubber boot which can cause selection issues (mainly worse when cold)

Hope this helps

Cal

[beardylondon]

I noticed the rubber boot was a bit damaged, the roll pin looked ok, will investigate.

 

Sometimes the roll pin in the selector linkage can foul if it works its way out a bit. 

[beardylondon]

OK, hope not. would that mean reverse gear would also hard to engage, it seemed ok.

 

It might be the start of the bush in the reverse idler gear coming out.

 

Explore all other options first though.

[beardylondon]

Thank you, will explore.

 

Check behind the dust cover on the slave cylinder for brake fluid, if the back of the cover is damp change the cylinder.

If the dust cover is dry check the clutch is adjusted correctly.

If the clutch is adjusted check the fluid level and also the colour of the fluid, if its black change the fluid.

You can also look below the cylinder(Where it goes onto the pedal) for moisture, again if there is dampness change the cylinder.


Finally look at the gear selector assembly as the anti leak kits for the selector shaft have a rubber boot which can cause selection issues (mainly worse when cold)

Hope this helps

Cal

[Spider]

 

OK, hope not. would that mean reverse gear would also hard to engage, it seemed ok.

 

It might be the start of the bush in the reverse idler gear coming out.

 

Explore all other options first though.

 

 

No. Reverse selects and works like it always has done.

 

One tell tale for this is the shifter becomes stiff to move across the Neutral gate. If you find start to eventually find it also hard to select 3rd & 4th, this will be it.

[whistler]

Sometimes the roll pin in the selector linkage can foul if it works its way out a bit. 

True; just had to do this on my Wife's car. 3rd was difficult to engage. Sorted by un-fouling it.

[beardylondon]

Thanks for all the suggestions, on closer examination with a helper, I could see the clutch wasn't opening properly with the pedal to the floor, even tough it was adjusted correctly at 6.5mm. So we bleed the clutch with new fluid, extracted a load of crap old fluid and air and it seems to be fine now. I also replaced one of the worn roll pins to firm up the gear selector too. Happy it wasn't more serious!