Stiff gear change

[omegaV6CD]

You need a 'proper' gearbox   ......sorry not much help...but couldnt resist  

'proper' gearboxes have 5 or more forward gears  

You only think you need more gears, but its simply because you are defficient in cylinders.....

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.

[omegaV6CD]

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.

[JasonH]

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.

[Essex_Andy]

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