Gearbox problem

[Laney]

Series 3 manual 4 speed . Help gearbox trouble.Went for a spin after tuning her up and she ran perfectly. Then I had to stop at a roundabout and and it happened no first or second gear it just wouldn’t go in gear I can get third forth and reverse but no first and second gear. Managed to pull away in third. It’s not like it’s trying to go in and crunching gears it’s just blocked off

[MarekH]

Gears are selected when the gear lever pushes or pulls one of three rods in or out along the inside of the top cover of the gearbox. There is one rod for third/fourth gears, another for reverse gear and one for.... first and second gears.

Unless you can somehow diagnose this from below, to troubleshoot this, you'll need access (at least) to the top of the gearbox. The easiest way forward is to strip out the centre console. To do that, apply the handbrake fully, more fully than ever before, unscrew the chromed end button on the handbrake lever and then remove the radio housing and cubby box. The plastic centre console can now lift out over the raised and slightly shortened handbrake lever and this gives you access to the tunnel panel over the gearbox.

kind regards
Marek

[lowact]

I find it easier to remove/replace the plastic centre console if I remove the left seat first. Then I aim for this orientation ...

[Laney]

Thanks for the advice