Gearstick locking out heeelp!!

[jen.pow.well]

I drive a Ibiza 05 Petrol 1.2L.

About a month ago, I was driving along my usual commute to work and changed down a gear to go around a corner, but once I went to change up again the gearstick became 'stuck' in neutral and would not go into any gear at all. I pulled over and generally fiddled with lifting and depressing the clutch and turning the ignition/engine on and off and it just suddenly started working again.

Then late last night it happened again; I was coming to a stop at traffic lights and depressed the clutch, braked and put it into neutral and applied the handbrake. As I put the clutch down I thought I felt an unusual 'drop' under my foot but I'm not sure if I was just being paranoid. When the traffic lights changed, I put the clutch down but found I couldn't move the gearstick into any gear and when I tried reverse it made the loud noise it would usually make if it isn't quite in gear properly (I don't know the right terms.....I'm a ditsy woman!). Again, I turned the engine off and on etc and it suddenly started working again.

I'm a nurse and desperately rely on my car for work, can anybody help me?! I don't know if it's just a fluke thing or if it needs to go to the garage ASAP and more importantly...how much this is gonna cost me

Thanks guys!

 

[S7UYJ]

It sounds like either a leak in the hydraulic system or an air lock

Check your brake fluid and see if it's low, if it is then top it up and have a check around the floor for leaks while pressing the clutch in and out.

Shouldn't be too hard for a garage to diagnose but worst case it may bethe clutch slave or master cylinder which shouldn't be too expensive but will still have to go to a garage

Hope that helps! Any questions just ask!

 

[jen.pow.well]

Thank you very much for your reply! I've checked for any leaking but I can't see any. My brother mentioned it could be a linkage problem between the engine and the gearstick? Either way, I think it might be hard for a garage to diagnose given how intermittent it is!

 

[S7UYJ]

Well there a few things they can do. You could ask them to bleed the system with fresh fluid(should be done every few years anyway but often gets overlooked. The fluid is hygroscopic so it absorbs water over time, old fluid can cause this sort of issue) that will rule out a problem with air or water in the fluid.

They should also check for leaks inside the bell housing(that's where the clutch lives as well as the clutch slave cylinder)

As a test, try putting your brakes all the way on, then try and put the car in gear. If the problem happens again then it may be your fluid level

 

[krussel]

Personally I would not drive the car until you have this sorted but if it catches you out whilst your driving around you can actually change gear without the clutch. This is very short term advice to get you home.

Say your in second and go to change up to third but the gear wont go in. Put a gentle pressure on the gear lever towards the gear you want (works best in 2nd or 3rd), rev the car and as the revs drop the gear (should) clonk in. What you will have done is matched the engine speed with the gearbox shaft. Get into a gear (third is best) and drive home trying not to stop. If the clutch has total gone then you may have to stall it in gear when you get home and stop.

Don't drive around like this for too long as it takes a lot of practice to do it smoothly and you will knacker the gearbox trying.

If something has broke on the gear linkage your pretty screwed really until its fixed.

Sorry best I can do.