Manual Gearbox/Knocking.

[Viper]

Has anybody had any problems with manual gearboxes. I was driving yesterday evening and just suddenly lost all the bottom gears (ie: 2nd and 4th). It feels as though they just aren't there any more - if you try to select them it feels as though there is nothing trying to direct them into position, and the gearbox just flops back into neutral once you let the gearstick go. The other gears still work properly, so I am assuming it is nothing to do with the clutch.
Also, while I'm on the topic of problems, would anyone know what is causing a knocking noise from the engine when it is cold. It is a continuous repetitice knocking, which speeds up as the revs do. After two or three minutes it just disappears?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[soc]

Has anybody had any problems with manual gearboxes. I was driving yesterday evening and just suddenly lost all the bottom gears (ie: 2nd and 4th). It feels as though they just aren't there any more - if you try to select them it feels as though there is nothing trying to direct them into position, and the gearbox just flops back into neutral once you let the gearstick go. The other gears still work properly, so I am assuming it is nothing to do with the clutch.
Also, while I'm on the topic of problems, would anyone know what is causing a knocking noise from the engine when it is cold. It is a continuous repetitice knocking, which speeds up as the revs do. After two or three minutes it just disappears?

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

1) The gearbos problem sounds like broken gearbox linkages. Happened to me on my old 205 GTI - gear lever just went loose and felt like it wasn't connected to anything anymore. Shouldn't be too expensive.... IIRC it only cost me 50 quid for the 205.

2) The knocking sounds like your tappets. Is yours a GR or a GPX? On the GPX you can get these adjusted - not too expensive. On the GR you can only get them replaced and this is very expensvice (upto 800 euro). If you've got a GR just get a thicker grade oil with a good additive - this might help. I have the same problem but to be honest as long as it goes away when the engine heats up (after a few mins) who cares

Cheers
Shane

[Viper]

Thanks for the help.

Thats what I thought was the problem with the gearbox alright, it just that the car is under warrenty (just have it 10 days!) and was concerned if they decide to just repair it as opposed to replace the entire gearbox that it may come back again.

As for the tappets, the car is a GR, so I think thicker oil is the way forward.

Thanks again!

[soc]

Thanks for the help.

Thats what I thought was the problem with the gearbox alright, it just that the car is under warrenty (just have it 10 days!) and was concerned if they decide to just repair it as opposed to replace the entire gearbox that it may come back again.

As for the tappets, the car is a GR, so I think thicker oil is the way forward.

Thanks again!

Should be no need to replace the gearbox (although if you can get a new box out of them go for it:)) - replacing the broken linkage should be enough. Maybe you could use the opportunity to fit a short shift kit (if there is such a thing for the FTO)?

Did you know about the tappets when you bought the car??? Should go back to them and get them to replace the tappets under warranty!! Where did you get it?

[Viper]

Yep, the gearbox was just the linkage... it's fixed now so I'll be collecting it again tonight hopefully... maybe even get more then a week out of it this time before something else goes wrong!
I knew about the tappets when I bought it, but decided against getting it fixed as it would have added more onto the price of the car. Anyway, so long as it isn't too serious and doesn't get any worst I'm not too worried about it.
Oh, yea, and I bought it in a car dealership in Kildare, I can't think of the name but it's near Newbridge. It's a 96, it was advertised in Buyandsell a few weeks back.