Unable to select 1st and 2nd Gear

Drivetrain problems

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Unable to select 1st and 2nd Gear

Postby Rob P » Mon 31.08.2015, 21:45

Strange one this, My lad took the car to Oulton park for the Gold cup today, driving home he stopped at some traffic lights - handbrake on, out of gear. The lights changed, he tried to select first gear, and really struggled to select it. Once the car was moving, there was no problem (each gear was easily selectable), but when stationary (with the engine on or off) 1st and 2nd gear couldn't be selected thereafter. Similarly, if the car had been left parked in gear (as you might when parked on a slope etc.) it took considerable effort to move the gearstick back into the neutral position.

When he got it home I had a look and sure enough the gear stick moves across into the right position to select 1st or second but trying to push the gear level up into 1st or pull it down into 2nd isn't possible, it is almost like it is jammed against something hard. I haven't tried to start the car and drive it to see if I can select 1st and 2nd whilst the car is moving but he managed to limp it home so I'm guessing what he says is true. That's what seems to be the weird bit, I would have thought it was either selectable or not if a cable was off

This is Paul Watkins old car and I believe it has a short shift kit installed and updated Gear shift cables but not really sure what version. I'm assuming this is likely to be related to the cables but have read through some of the earlier posts and can't really make too much sense of them (yep I'm maybe not the smartest cookie in the jar).

Thinking it is a trip to a Lotus specialist tomorrow as I am heading to Scotland and this car needs to be sorted for the 13th Sept as I'm supposed to be heading to Italy with it :lol:

Any guidance would be useful although it will probably be only to pass it onto the garage I end up dropping it off at, assuming I can get it there of course
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1997 Lotus Elise S1 - Metallic Racing Green
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Re: Unable to select 1st and 2nd Gear

Postby dapinky » Mon 31.08.2015, 22:07

Rob,

I can't remember which cables Paul put on it, but I would expect them to be AB cables (i believe he did it before anything else was available, but may have done them again????)

From the symptoms expressed, it sounds just as likely to be a gearbox issue as a cable one, as otherwise some of the rest of the gears could be just as bad to get.

I'm not particularly up to speed with gearboxes, so I'll let someone with more Elan knowledge chip in, but from similar issues on another car it was a simple part of the gear set / shaft which was the issue - unfortunately for me, it was easy to change - but only with the gearbox out of the car :? :?
Dave

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Re: Unable to select 1st and 2nd Gear

Postby Rob P » Mon 31.08.2015, 22:12

Cheers Dave, I have found a couple of Paul's posts which have details on the short shifter but not yet found the details of the cables but there seems to be a few posts from Paul on the AB cables discussions so I'm hazarding a guess at those being the ones.
Hmmm gearbox issues sounds pretty terminal for using the car for Italy then, just what we needed, might be heading there in the Mini One then, that'll be fun ...not

Sounds like a call to Oakmere first thing tomorrow to see if they can fit it in short notice, I'll not hold my breath then :(
simplify and add lightness
1991 Norfolk Mustard Yellow SE - Gone but will never be forgotten :-)
1969 Lotus Elan S4 - Wedgewood Blue
1997 Lotus Elise S1 - Metallic Racing Green
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Re: Unable to select 1st and 2nd Gear

Postby dapinky » Mon 31.08.2015, 22:25

Rob,

If they can fit it in, then it should still be good for Italy - they may fix it simply (I may be totally wrong), but at least they'll have the facilities to test selection at the box to isolate the cable or box issue.

Removal and replacement is less than a days work, strip and build can be anything (timewise) depending on what needs to come out, but certainly hours rather than days - so it's really all down to what parts may be necessary.....

..... it may be as simple as the 'jammed 5th gear' issue which just needs a nut tightening up with everything lined up properly.
Dave

Just the one now, but this one's mine! - and it will be finished eventually..... - but also temporary custodian of a project until it is finished enough for Angie to drive it

go on - click this link - you know you want to!
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