Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: JasonH on 28 December 2006, 19:40:33

Title: Stiff gear change
Post by: JasonH on 28 December 2006, 19:40:33
Recently, and I think fairly suddenly, it's become hard to change gear.

It's a bit variable but 2nd to 3rd tends to be the worst and need a good shove. Worst is at high revs. I.e. floor it, 1st to 2nd OK ish, go for 3rd and it won't go in.

Changed the gearbox oil today, the old oil was a bit brown but OK. It was also overfilled.

Anyway new oil in and level now correct and the gearchange is better, but still difficult to get some gears sometimes.

Might be partically cold weather related, but it seems a bit hit or miss.

The clutch isn't slipping and I don't think it's dragging.

Any suggestions?

Clutch bleed perhaps?
Or adjust the gear linkage.... but it needs a special GM tool... anyone know how to do it without?

Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: STMO123 on 28 December 2006, 19:48:47
Mine's never been perfect Jason, but not as bad as yours by the sound of things :(
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: tunnie on 28 December 2006, 19:51:16
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Mine's never been perfect Jason, but not as bad as yours by the sound of things :(

Same here, this cold snap seams to make it worse. Mine is worst between 1st - 2nd & 2nd - 3rd.

Soon as it gets warm though its much better, about 10/15 mins or so its much, much smoother.

Might change the oil in mine during the summer...
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 28 December 2006, 20:58:48
You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: JasonH on 28 December 2006, 21:04:46
Maybe, but at least I have a "proper" engine....
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: tunnie on 28 December 2006, 21:05:06
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

'proper' gearboxes have 5 or more forward gears  ;) :D
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: TheBoy on 28 December 2006, 21:25:25
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

'proper' gearboxes have 5 or more forward gears  ;) :D
You only think you need more gears, but its simply because you are defficient in cylinders.....
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: tunnie on 28 December 2006, 21:31:24
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Quote
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

'proper' gearboxes have 5 or more forward gears  ;) :D
You only think you need more gears, but its simply because you are defficient in cylinders.....

 ;D ;D

I drove a 6 speed Mondeo TDCi 130 few years ago, that thing pulled like a train. The 6th gear gave great economy too! Although could not match the megga for comfort.
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: Chopsdad on 28 December 2006, 22:36:46
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

'proper' gearboxes have 5 or more forward gears  ;) :D
You only think you need more gears, but its simply because you are defficient in cylinders.....

 ;D ;D

I drove a 6 speed Mondeo TDCi 130 few years ago, that thing pulled like a train. The 6th gear gave great economy too! Although could not match the megga for comfort.

I took one of them to Manchester recently - really fast at motorway speed but not the fuel economy I expected - then I found gear number 6 (after 100 miles) and it all made sense  :-[

FYI I couldn't engage 1st gear yesterday - I think it's cos I washed it the night before and it froze up
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: tunnie on 28 December 2006, 22:44:25
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

I took one of them to Manchester recently - really fast at motorway speed but not the fuel economy I expected - then I found gear number 6 (after 100 miles) and it all made sense  :-[

I was told before i started driving it had 6  ;)


Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: Chopsdad on 28 December 2006, 22:46:42
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

I took one of them to Manchester recently - really fast at motorway speed but not the fuel economy I expected - then I found gear number 6 (after 100 miles) and it all made sense  :-[

I was told before i started driving it had 6  ;)



Mine was hire car - delivered to home - keys through the letter box.  Never looked at the gearstick with an extra number on at 6am until I found 6th instead of 4th  ::)
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: Auto Addict on 29 December 2006, 07:22:49
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

'proper' gearboxes have 5 or more forward gears  ;) :D

Proper gearboxes don't need a clutch pedal...... ;)
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: Chopsdad on 29 December 2006, 11:17:14
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Quote
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

'proper' gearboxes have 5 or more forward gears  ;) :D

Proper gearboxes don't need a clutch pedal...... ;)

Proper gearboxes don't need the alphabet - just numbers and R
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: tunnie on 29 December 2006, 11:41:52
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Quote
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

'proper' gearboxes have 5 or more forward gears  ;) :D

Proper gearboxes don't need a clutch pedal...... ;)

Proper gearboxes don't need the alphabet - just numbers and R

Thats why they have letters, cause its so booring driving them. When you got nothing to do, you can start working out how many words you can make just using the letters on the box  ;) ;D ;D
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: TheBoy on 29 December 2006, 11:56:19
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#
Thats why they have letters, cause its so booring driving them. When you got nothing to do, you can start working out how many words you can make just using the letters on the box  ;) ;D ;D
Its relevent if to have a proper engine, as you'll be at your destination so quickly...

Besides, I learnt to count at school, so I don't need a box with numbers....
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: omegaV6CD on 29 December 2006, 12:34:41
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You need a 'proper' gearbox  ;D ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  ;D

'proper' gearboxes have 5 or more forward gears  ;) :D
You only think you need more gears, but its simply because you are defficient in cylinders.....

 ;D ;D

I drove a 6 speed Mondeo TDCi 130 few years ago, that thing pulled like a train. The 6th gear gave great economy too! Although could not match the megga for comfort.

We had one of them at work as a pool car, I found the engine calibration to be rubish, it is really a case of 2-4k rpm powerband, once i set the cruise control at 85 and it woould only do 38mpg. I much prefer the Vectra 120 and 150 with the fiat engine you get almost a petrol engine powerband.
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: omegaV6CD on 29 December 2006, 12:36:56
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Recently, and I think fairly suddenly, it's become hard to change gear.

It's a bit variable but 2nd to 3rd tends to be the worst and need a good shove. Worst is at high revs. I.e. floor it, 1st to 2nd OK ish, go for 3rd and it won't go in.

Changed the gearbox oil today, the old oil was a bit brown but OK. It was also overfilled.

Anyway new oil in and level now correct and the gearchange is better, but still difficult to get some gears sometimes.

Might be partically cold weather related, but it seems a bit hit or miss.

The clutch isn't slipping and I don't think it's dragging.

Any suggestions?

Clutch bleed perhaps?
Or adjust the gear linkage.... but it needs a special GM tool... anyone know how to do it without?


How many miles has it done? it might be a case of worn clutch release bearing that when it gets hot and expands alligns the primary shaft correctly and therefore you get easy gearchanges. Just a theory.
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: JasonH on 29 December 2006, 12:47:21
Ah ha at last a serious answer, thanks Omegav6cd.

Clutch release bearing, hmmmm I'll need to take the gearbox off to check that, but if it gets worse it's certainly something to check.

The car has done 111k miles on the original clutch.
Title: Re: Stiff gear change
Post by: Essex_Andy on 29 December 2006, 17:55:56
I re-filled my gearbox with castrol high grade oil designed for high temp/shear (used in Ford 4x4 cossie boxes) and a tube of molyslip gearbox additive.

A very nice box and smooth but posiive shifts now