Help - Gearshift linkage failure!

[Sherwy]

Morning gents,

I'm guessing I've lost the linkage on my gearshift as I can only select reverse gear. I lent my van to one of my staff and it came back rooted. I managed to get the vehicle home (lucky it was only a couple of ks) but since then I can only select reverse.

I've got it booked in for a service next week with the wee Scotsman Jimmy, (JMAC) who I'm quite sure can conquer the problem but I need to get the vehicle there first! Obviously I'd like to avoid towing it but I fear that may be my only option.

So if anyone has experienced this before and knows a few tricks I'd love to hear from you, even if its just a bodge job to get me to Jimmy's workshop.

Cheers,

Sherwy.

[Umai Naa!!]

T4, I assume?

You should be able to rig up a system of cable ties to hold it all together on top of the gearbox.

[Sherwy]

Ooopps, T5 sorry. Cable ties hey? Bewty I've got loads of them!

Is it best to attack it from inside the vehicle or under it?

Cheers,

Sherwy.

[Umai Naa!!]

T5, you say?

Different setup altogether.

On top of the gearbox, you'll see the two shift cables. Perhaps one of them has detatched? Have someone operate the gearstick while you observe things at the gearbox end.

[Sherwy]

Ok found the gearbox cables, both still attached and moving around when the gear shift lever is moved around.

What's next?

[Umai Naa!!]

I'm going to skip a few steps and suggest that the stub shaft coming out of the gearbox, that the right side driveshaft attaches to, has stripped out.

[Sunny43.5]

I agree with Umai its a known problem with T5's the shafts are made from that new wonderous material called TOFFEE . You only have to read some reports from the UK about how lousy the material is . A couple of weeks ago another forum member had similar issues .

[Sherwy]

Wow, ok, but I can still go on reverse.... Does that make sense?

[Sherwy]

And the action of the gear lever feels quite strange so that's why I thought it was some type of linkage problem.

[Sunny43.5]

reversing could be because the traction control may transfer drive to the opposite side shaft , when in gear with engine running is there any kind of unusual noise from the drive train ? . Not sure if this would help but turn off the TCS .