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Aug 19, 2016 10:26:14 GMT
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Not entirely retro, but I still need help guys. I'm currently in Spain and my 2002 Toyota Corolla has lost fifth gear. The gear stick pops out whenever fifth is selected and won't stay in. This happened in the north of France, and I managed to get it to Barcelona, where it still functions fine in all other gears. I tried to get it repaired here, but it's the holiday and one garage quoted 3000€! My question is, would it be safe to drive back to England in just fourth gear?
I drove down at 60mph and wouldn't let it rev about 3,000RPM. So if I did the same, would I be likely to make it home?
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Project - 1990 Trabant 601 Daily - 2006 Saab 93
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,313
Club RR Member Number: 160
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5th gear problemsRich
@foxmcintyre
Club Retro Rides Member 160
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Aug 19, 2016 10:30:42 GMT
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That's fine. IIRC 5th failing is a moderately common problem. Maybe see if you can at least have the oil in the box changed to at least limit further failure through particle wear.
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Aug 19, 2016 11:10:13 GMT
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depends why exactly its happened, I've come across it in a french box where the nut had come loose and the hub for 5th had stripped.
worked fine in the other gears, but due to the tapered bearings on the input shaft and the helical gears I doubt it would last that long without the nut on the end before it splits the casing apart.
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Aug 19, 2016 11:16:06 GMT
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heard it happening on other cars due to low oil
id imagine it will get back ok...if you can id try and change the oil or at least top it up , should be able to buy the tools to do it fairly cheaply
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91 golf g60, 89 golf 16v , 88 polo breadvan
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Aug 19, 2016 11:22:03 GMT
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Does it work in 5th if you hold it in place? My friend had this problem of popping out of 5th in an AX years ago, he just attached an elastic band to his dashboard and used to hook the gearstick into it to stop it popping out! Obviously not ideal but seemed to keep going like that for some time!
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If at first you don't succeed........ ....Don't try skydiving!
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tdk
Part of things
Posts: 958
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Aug 19, 2016 13:47:59 GMT
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I'd drive it. You're stuck anyway, the worst that can happen is that you need recovering from somewhere nearer to home if you're heading back already. I recall a Subaru with no 5th, did another 40k miles before the car was junked. Just do it, use it as an excuse to use pretty but slower Route Nationales instead of boring and expensive Autoroutes.
Bon voyage!
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djefk
Part of things
Posts: 844
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Aug 19, 2016 14:00:36 GMT
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Grow a pair man! It's Spain, not Uzbekistan - buy some breakdown cover and treat it as part of the adventure.
I once drove from Croatia through Slovenia and up into the Alps to Austria with only 4th gear usable in a cosworth V6 Mk 3 Cortina with b&ggered type 9 just to get to somewhere where our policy covered us. Now THAT was a journey!
Good luck and update us on how you get on.
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Last Edit: Aug 19, 2016 14:09:36 GMT by djefk
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Aug 19, 2016 23:20:48 GMT
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^ see the post by adambt. I had a Ford that used to jump out of top (4th), a bungee elastic from the gearlever to the rear seat used to hold it in gear Not ideal but it worked fine for a couple of months until I found a replacement gearbox. Go for breakdown cover, and have a gentle run home (no burnouts or RWYB dragstrip detours). Best of British luck!
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60six
Posted a lot
(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻
Posts: 1,673
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I had a Toyota camry that did exactly the same thing - be REALLY careful with gearchanges - I wasn't, and lost fourth as well
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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I had k10 that needed the passenger to hold it in 4th, did that for about 3 months then a spirited run home lost me second as well, was really annoying having to redline it then clutch carefully for third. Just take it easy and you should be ok. I drove mine with a 2 speed box for a couple of months after carefully avoiding motorways, joys of an apprentice wage.
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Does it work in 5th if you hold it in place? My friend had this problem of popping out of 5th in an AX years ago, he just attached an elastic band to his dashboard and used to hook the gearstick into it to stop it popping out! Obviously not ideal but seemed to keep going like that for some time! It does work if you hold it in place. But it's obviously not ideal for a trip of over 800 miles. I may seek a top up of the oil then, but garages aren't an option during the holidays here and in France.
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Project - 1990 Trabant 601 Daily - 2006 Saab 93
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Aug 20, 2016 13:05:47 GMT
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I had a beetle that lost 4th on a long motorway run. Wrapped my leg round the lever to keep in in gear. Lots of stops to relieve cramp from by left leg later, I managed to get it back without incident. Good luck on your journey home.
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Its not broken, its resting! Max signature image height: 80px
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mikeymk
Part of things
'85 Polo Coupe S 1.6 16v
Posts: 931
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Aug 20, 2016 17:56:02 GMT
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Syc rings hold the drive to the gear, these have teeth which wear over time. The oil becomes metallic and increases wear. Play in the mechanism, not adjusted over time, adds to the inevitibility - When a gear finally kicks out, it damages the teeth tenfold. Every time it kicks out, it does untold damage. Kicking out just ten times can have the teeth completely destroyed and even the firmest hand won't hold it in gear.
Moral to the story, gear oil changes and linkage tightening - legend has it that gearboxes don't need servicing. Yes they do.
For you now, motorway cruising at 4k rpm is fine. I'd keep to 3.5 i think, depending on engine. Personally i'd buy and fit a cheap 2nd hand unit out there in a random car park, but i guess you're not looking at that sort of option.
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