Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: rappy on 19 February 2010, 18:49:25

Title: Can't select gear
Post by: rappy on 19 February 2010, 18:49:25
Hi, we have a manual 2.2 GLS (facelift)  I have just gone to move the car and it would not go into gear....any of them.... after sitting and trying and accidently pulling the gear knob off!!!!  I eventually got it into gear, once it in as you drive along it seems to get easier..... apparantly this is a problem we've had for a while and OH leaves it in gear to make it easier first thing.... I don't drive this one usually so didn't know about it...... Can anyone point us in the direction as to what the problem is?  Many thanks in advance  :)
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rustym95 on 19 February 2010, 18:51:09
did it crunch when went into gear???, or did the gear not move??
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rappy on 19 February 2010, 18:54:51
Literally just wouldn't go in, then when it did, if anything it was just stiff, no noise.
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rustym95 on 19 February 2010, 18:57:34
it is manual? could be the selector rod under the car or the gear selector has gone in the gear box, can you wiggle the stick.
auto could be anthing so would need to be read on a tec2.
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rappy on 19 February 2010, 18:59:01
Its a manual, and yes you can wiggle it in neutral to your hearts content  :)
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rustym95 on 19 February 2010, 19:00:07
with out the engine running can you change gear easy?
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: MickAP on 19 February 2010, 19:03:24
I believe it's called clutch drag.
If it improves when warm then no worries, in summer allshould be ok. It's when it's been stood for a while, 1st and reverse gears being the worse to engage from cold :y.

Mick
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rappy on 19 February 2010, 19:04:36
Just been out to check, and yes you can bob it about in any of the gears no problem, without the engine running.
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rustym95 on 19 February 2010, 19:06:35
 dose the clutch feel real easy or hard?
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 19 February 2010, 19:10:28
The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rustym95 on 19 February 2010, 19:11:27
if real easy would check brake fluid level if low top up and will have to re- bleed the clutch,
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rustym95 on 19 February 2010, 19:16:34
Quote
The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)
no you should not its dangerous, if cluctch has gone there is a good chance engine will start and any thing can happen, m8 of mine lost his legs cos some one did that and pin'd him into another car.
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: bri cox on 19 February 2010, 19:23:46
about eight mechanics die or loose limbs or get seriously hurt a year due to people  leaving the car in gear i remember a  mate getting sacked for leaving a costomers car in gear as the costomer rear ended a new car when he  started it bad idea leaving your car in gear
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: MickAP on 19 February 2010, 19:37:16
Can you select gears normally when the car has warmed up?

Mick
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rappy on 19 February 2010, 19:41:22
Yes Mick AP, they can be selected fine once driven approx 5 mins or so.
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: Andy H on 19 February 2010, 19:46:05
Possible causes for the clutch drag are:
- air in the hydraulic clutch release cylinder/pipe
- faulty master cylinder
- broken clutch pressure plate spring
- sticky splines on gearbox input shaft
- broken dual mass flywheel
- chewed up spigot bearing

Air in the hydraulics is the most likely as it is difficult to bleed the Omega clutch properly. The master cylinder is next on the list.

All the other causes need the gearbox out to inspect the entrails so I would bleed the clutch first then fit a new master cylinder if bleeding doesn't work.
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: hoofing it on 19 February 2010, 19:46:24
Quote
if real easy would check brake fluid level if low top up and will have to re- bleed the clutch,
this should be your first place to look this a warning backup to let you know the level is low top up then try bleeding it.
if that fails i'd put money on the clutch failing.
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rappy on 19 February 2010, 19:51:53
Thanks guys you've all been really helpful and given us somewhere to start.  Thanks very much  :y
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: sexydaz on 19 February 2010, 19:58:31
Quote
The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)
after two replies saying otherwise i have to agree with MDTM whenever ive had a manual i always parked it in gear...all you need is the handbrake cable to snap and the car on a slope even a small one and set off rolling without a driver behind the wheel or at the brakes and god knows what could happen
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rustym95 on 19 February 2010, 19:58:34
Quote
Quote
if real easy would check brake fluid level if low top up and will have to re- bleed the clutch,
this should be your first place to look this a warning backup to let you know the level is low top up then try bleeding it.
if that fails i'd put money on the clutch failing.
warning light only comes on for the brakes as the hole that fills clutch is just below the max mark on the container.
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: MickAP on 19 February 2010, 20:55:14
Ok he says it's fine when warm so....
Mine is also difficult to engage in 1st and reverse when stood for more that say 2/3 days in this weather.
Something sticking in there somewhere, then when warm all ok. Mines been like this for over 2 years and still drives fine after that initial warm up, about half a mile or so. I tow with mine and it's fine, the clutch is just as good as when I first owned it.
I don't think you have any worries yet, just leave it in gear if it troubles you, remember to use the handbrake as well when parked.

Mick
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: unlucky mark mv6 on 19 February 2010, 21:06:56
Quote
Quote
The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)
after two replies saying otherwise i have to agree with MDTM whenever ive had a manual i always parked it in gear...all you need is the handbrake cable to snap and the car on a slope even a small one and set off rolling without a driver behind the wheel or at the brakes and god knows what could happen
Agreed mate,i have always left mine in gear in the 17 years i have been driving.I returned a hire van sometime last year to burnt tree van hire,and when the bloke got in it to move it,he started it up and shot off right through the gates,and the side of the van hit the gate,and made a bit of a mess of the van,all because i left it in gear ::),but to be fair,when you start any vehicl,you are always taught to check its in neutral. ::)
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: sexydaz on 19 February 2010, 21:28:29
Quote
Quote
Quote
The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)
after two replies saying otherwise i have to agree with MDTM whenever ive had a manual i always parked it in gear...all you need is the handbrake cable to snap and the car on a slope even a small one and set off rolling without a driver behind the wheel or at the brakes and god knows what could happen
Agreed mate,i have always left mine in gear in the 17 years i have been driving.I returned a hire van sometime last year to burnt tree van hire,and when the bloke got in it to move it,he started it up and shot off right through the gates,and the side of the van hit the gate,and made a bit of a mess of the van,all because i left it in gear ::),but to be fair,when you start any vehicl,you are always taught to check its in neutral. ::)
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 :y
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rustym95 on 19 February 2010, 21:32:51
that is wrong, leving in gear on hill ok,(fault gears or clutch) but starting and engine in gear on purpose wile holding down the clutch is a no no, if you are found to do this you should stop as if you cause an accident due to doing this bye bye licence, hight way code, minimum of six months in prison and licence ban, that is what the person got for starting the engine in gear and causing driving with out due care and attention, he got 6 years. mate got wheel chair.
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: sexydaz on 19 February 2010, 22:00:07
Quote
that is wrong, leving in gear on hill ok,(fault gears or clutch) but starting and engine in gear on purpose wile holding down the clutch is a no no, if you are found to do this you should stop as if you cause an accident due to doing this bye bye licence, hight way code, minimum of six months in prison and licence ban, that is what the person got for starting the engine in gear and causing driving with out due care and attention, he got 6 years. mate got wheel chair.
as said by markmv6 car in neutral before starting
Title: Re: Can't select gear
Post by: rustym95 on 20 February 2010, 07:26:12
Quote
The trick is to leave it in gear (which is good practice anyway) and start the car with your foot on the clutch (was is also good practice!)