No 3rd or 4th gear.....help!!! IT LIVES!!!

[knac1234]

Hello all,

Was driving back home up the highway, and was turning right to go onto a residential street, shifting from 4th to 3rd to 2nd.

When I started picking up speed again, I tried to go into 3rd gear, and it would not let me! Same with 2nd to 4th gear! Tried pulling over, and could not select 3rd or 4th, with the transfer box in any gear or neutral! Made it home in 2nd with OD!!!

The only issue with the tranny was the occasional popping out of 2nd....I have a box of detent springs and balls I ordered last week that I was going to tackle tomorrow.

Any help diagnosing appreciated. Pictures or VERY detailed instructions needed....I know nothing about trannys, but am willing to give it a shot.

Need the car running....my Freelander died two days ago also and haven't been able to get into that with the rotten weather

Going to post this on other boards too!!

Cheers,
Julian

[SeriesShorty]

Check my post on this exact same issue from earlier this week. Lots of good diagnostic info, as well as links to synchro spring replacement procedures.

Good luck!

[Terrys]

My sympathies Julian. Not because of the series issues; they're fixable. Because of the Freebie; they're not. Is you Change Engine light on?

[knac1234]

Seriesshorty-thanks....missed that one. I am a bit nervous attempting any of that though. Looking for some pics.....there are a few in the Haynes manual.....hoping it will help. Were you successful?

Terry-not to take over the thread with my FL issues, but no the Change Engine light is not on. It went on for the first time ever about a month ago at about 50000 miles coming back from California. Needed a new intake manifold (I lucked out and found a genuine NOS one for $775 instead of $1300 ). Drove it 1000 miles more....no issues. We had -20F weather this week, and my wife started it up and noticed oil from the oil filter area. She shut it down immediately (said less than a minute....no lights on dash). I checked the oil, and it was just over the LOW indicator. As I cannot move it, I have to (hopefully today if it doesn't snow again), lie in oil and snow on my driveway and remove that panel to look whats happened. Hoping maybe it was a loose filter (although I checked it two weeks ago) and the extreme cold that contributed. Have my 0W-40 synthetic and a new filter in hand....pray for me!!

If I can move the FL, which is blocking my garage, then I can take the roof rack of the Series and attempt to look at the tranny from above in my garage--freezing, but at least I won't get snowed on!!!!!

Keep any tips coming!!!!

Julian

[Terrys]

Not on topic, so I'll make it quick. That is precisely what happened to my wifes FL 2 years ago, also on a very cold day. It was a blown out cam plug, and frozen vent tube. Did it again immediately after they fixed it the first time, so we dumped the car for an 09 Forrester LLBean edition, and never looked back.

[SeriesShorty]

Julian, I haven't been able to get back to work on my truck cause we keep getting snow dumped on us. Woke up to another 4" this morning. No garage. So it may be a while before I can back at it. I'm hopeful that mine is just some jammed up syncho clips.

Keep us posted on what you find in yours, especially if you get to yours before I can get to mine.

[knac1234]

Terry-Pulled the protective cover off, and sure enough the oil filter was covered. I used an inspection light and thoroughly looked over the whole engine (and vehicle)....even pulled off the air filter cover. No signs of any pipes or anything else burst....looks like just a filter leak (had one before with a minor drip....of course only on this car, never on any other I have owned!). Anyway, changed the oil, left the cover off, and took it for a 15 mile drive stopping every few miles to check the filter. Clean, drives good, sounds good, no dummy lights, temp perfect....looks like I've lucked out . Wife will take it to work tomorrow for a 30 mile round trip.

Serieshorty-I sympathize with the snow and no garage. I have a garage, but it is packed with the MGs and the Hillman, so it is tight (and cold anyway). If the rack were to come off, I could get the Series in.

Anyway....after possible success with the FLander, I started on the Series as the weather was tolerable and it hadn't started snowing. Started by pulling the floors and tranny tunnel.....first time ever doing that.....thought it was a 10 minute job......took me 2 hours due to rusty screws, etc!!!!! Trashed them....will get some stainless to replace them with. Anyway, just as I finally got the floor out....it started to snow.....will report more as I know more!! I may post pictures as I probably will have no clue what I am looking at!!

Cheers,
Julian

[knac1234]

Hello all,

Some pics for you to see.....am looking for some insight for the next step

1.

Found this retaining screw just sitting in the hole....will not screw in. What does it do and what problem will that contribute to?

2.
I see the ball at the bottom of the shift lever. Does that look normal, or do I need a new lever (I have read about a nylon ball at the end that disintegrates, but can't find a pic of a new one)? All along, my shift lever has felt loose.....maybe that is why....or that retaining screw noted above?

I tried operating the clutch by hand and visually watched this ball go into the fork for 1/2 gears and it worked and selected them fine. I also did the same, but with the ball in the fork for 3/4 gears....it will not select either gear. Possibly something is jammed?

To access where the detent springs/balls go and to look for something jamming the selector, do I simply remove the two bolts seen in the pic above for the shift lever plate and the two smaller bolts (one seen in the pic) at the angled part of the shift lever plate?

3.
Noticed two unused electrical terminals as seen in the pic. I am guessing this activates the reverse lights (which do work) as this is the side reverse is on. Am I right or is this something that should be hooked up somehow?

Much appreciated.....I shall soldier on after hearing some ideas as am worried about taking the plate off mentionned above!!

Cheers,
Julian

[LR Max]

For 1. The retaining screw prevents the shifter from spinning around. Seriously, try shifting into reverse right now. You'll be in for a dismal surprise.

That is all I can do for you right now. God speed.

[Terrys]

Is today the 6th already? jeez the time is flying.
Julian, as Max says, you've gotta have that bolt screwed in, or you'll have one heck of a time trying to shift. See the slot in th ball of the lever? that bolt goes into that slot.
The ball at the END of the shift lever doesn't look as bad as some I've seen, and I don't think that's the cause of your proble. There are several different types of ends on shift levers that I know of, the best being like the 2A which is a large nylon ring.
What switches your reverse lights on if there were no wires attached to the Rube Goldberg original switch?
The detent balls and springs are further back. Look for an L shaped bracket, bolted down from the top, with the Ell going down the side of the cover (about 3/4"x3/4") there will be one on each side, and the 1/2 detent in line with the 2 outside ones, under a brass cap in the center of the gearbox, and, not coincidently, located directly over the 1/2 selector rod.
If you're able to see the shifter go all the way into the 3/4 selector, not at all still slightly in the 1/2, then you're issue is probably the same as the other thread currently in progress (was it siii88?)