[Corsa D 2006-2014] car will not go into 1st gear in the cold.

[aasim]

Hello everyone. I'm having trouble lately with my vauxhall corsa 1.3 diesel. In the cold weather conditions the car just will not go into 1st gear. It only goes in after going into 5th gear then 1st. Or if I select 1st when car is off then it works fine until I stop and go into neutral. Everything gets better after about 40 minutes of driving. When car is warm.
I have changed gearbox oil to original vauxhall oil and changed the gear linkage again from vauxhall. Please help as I am running out of ideas. Clutch was canned March 2014 with flywheel and master slave cylinder.

[Taurus]

Sounds like the clutch is dragging. The way to check is to try to engage first gear with the engine running, when it won't go in hold the gear lever trying to engage first and then turn the engine off. If the gear lever engages first as the engine stops it shows the clutch is dragging.

[Bugman]

As Taurus says it sounds like the clutch is dragging,ie its not fully releasing. First thing to check is that the clutch pedal travel is not obstructed by rucked floor mats or something.Sounds daft but it can happen. More likely its related to the clutch master or slave cylinder work done in march 2014. It may be leaking fluid, or there is air in the system that needs bleeding. If the work was done at a garage take it back. Its possible they may accept some liability and repair it under guarantee or at reduced cost.

[aasim]

Sounds like the clutch is dragging. The way to check is to try to engage first gear with the engine running, when it won't go in hold the gear lever trying to engage first and then turn the engine off. If the gear lever engages first as the engine stops it shows the clutch is dragging.

[aasim]

Hi Taurus and bugman. Thanks for your replies, much appreciated. I have taken the car to the garage that installed the clutch, flywheel an clutch master cylinder. He'll let me know what is causing the problem. it is really weird how the problem is only there for about 40mins. Then when car is warm everything is fine. I'll update once I find out what mechanic says.

[aasim]

Hello guys. I have got the car back on Wednesday and the mechanic replaced the clutch/brake fluid and things seem to be better. The mechanic said he checked the clutch with a special camera and said the clutch seemed fine

[Bugman]

Thanks for letting us know.
These endoscope type bore/inspection cameras seem to be getting quite cheap,especially those you need to use with a pc or mobile phone. Any one used one or can recommend one,at the cheap end? Sorry if there is already a thread,I couldnt find it

Actually,cancel that. I will start a new thread on general chat

[aasim]

Hello everyone, my first gear had problems again this morning. I guess I need to have it checked again.

[Bugman]

Oh dear. The clutch activation arm may be bent. To repair this properly may be a gearbox out job. But I am not familiar with this model and there may be other possible causes.
I am making no accusations about your mechanic,but if it is the arm there are a couple of bodges you should be aware of,especially if the repair is being done free under warranty. They may be tempted to simply bend the arm back into shape from the outside without dismantling and even if the gearbox is dismantled, they might just bend the arm back into shape and refit it rather than source a new one or reinforce it by welding.These arms can be marginal for strength even when new,repeated bending will only weaken it more.They might also try and take play up using washers. As with all car repairs its quite a good idea to imply you will be interested in seeing the parts they had to replace,even if youre not.

[Taurus]

If he has only replaced the fluid then chances are the original problem is still present - drag is often caused by contamination of the plate, eg bu oil leaking through the rear crankshaft seal. It causes problems when cold that tend to diminish as the car is driven and the plate cleans up a bit. You won't always spot that using an endoscope.

[aasim]

Hello guys. Still having problems with the 1st gear problems. I took the car to Mr Clutch (clutch specialist in uk). He checked the clutch and said the clutch seemed fine. He suggested it might be gearbox problem. I took it to a few garages today as I had a day off, nearly all checked the clutch for wear and said it can't be that. I suggested the clutch may be dragging and they said that it isn't.

[Taurus]

Did you try that check I posted? Even very slight drag will prevent it engaging first (and reverse as well at times). If it hold the gear lever pushing it into first and then turn the engine off - if it slides into gear as the engine stops it's almost certain to be the clutch dragging slightly.

[aasim]

Did you try that check I posted? Even very slight drag will prevent it engaging first (and reverse as well at times). If it hold the gear lever pushing it into first and then turn the engine off - if it slides into gear as the engine stops it's almost certain to be the clutch dragging slightly.

Hello Taurus. I asked the guy at Mr Clutch if he thinks the clutch is dragging. He checked the clutch thoroughly and said clutch seems fine. it stalled when he tried to move off in second third and forth. He tried every gear and confirmed clutch is fine. He said it is 80% sure it the gear box. He said where the gears are worn out the go into gear easier because they're are worn. But I did try your check and it did go into gear after the car was switched off.


It works perfwctly fine when the car is warm...

[Bugman]

Hi
Taurus is giving excellent advice. Better than I can give,and in my opinion better than the Mr Clutch technician. Trying to start off in higher gear sis a test for a slipping/worn clutch. Thats Mr clutches business,fitting new clutches.Its not a test for a dragging clutch.Thats the test you did yourself and the car appears to test positive for a dragging clutch,rather than a damaged gearbox


The clutch disconnects the rotating engine from the gearbox. However when you are stationary with the engine running,and the car in neutral and not using the clutch the engine is still actually turning one gear on a shaft in the gearbox. All other shafts and gears in the gearbox are stationarybecause the car is stationary.If you were to try and go into first without using the clutch there would be a terrible grinding noise.A mismatch in speeds. The moving gear cannot mesh with the stationary gear.This is basically what still happens if your clutch is dragging slightly.The shaft/gear is still moving. Normally the shaft should slow down and stop when the clutch is fully released so gear speeds are synchronised.
The test you did of selecting first with the engine stopped,or just stopping means the engine is no longer moving that gear. The fact the gearbox is then able to select first without problem indicates it will probably be able to do so without problem once the dragging clutch is fixed.

I would try and get the car checked by an experienced general mechanic before going to any further . Dont assume that because a technician is experienced in bolting on new clutches he is necessarily an expert in diagnosing more subtle problems.Otherwise you might get the wrong thing fixed, or both fixed one of which wasnt necessary.


I

[aasim]

So which part of the clutch shall I replace or tell the original guy to replace. The entire clutch or flywheel. Thanks for the advice guys. I'm greatful for your advice