16 replies to this topic

[Dan 4]

Tonight while driving home something has happened to the VX... I was behind a slow car so wanted to overtake. I was in 4th gear so went to move into 3rd gear. As I went to select 3rd gear I felt something give way, possibly snap, and the VX jumped into second gear where it got stuck. I couldn't select any other gear or go into neutral as the gear stick became floppy. As I was only a mile away from my house I sat in 2nd and 20mph and made it home. Before going into the house I had a little look in the engine bay and could easily select neutral by moving the selector by hand. I can now select 2nd, 4th and reverse gear only. If I push the gear stick up into either 1st, 3rd or 5th gear the gear stick it just floppy and no gears can be selected. At first I though that one of the cables could have snapped but everything looks ok at the box end. I haven't yet removed the center console to look at the gear stick end but with my understand of how the gear cables work (one selecting the gear (the selector) and the other rotating (the cross gate) i'm a little confused to as why I can only select 2nd, 4th and reverse gears now. Can anyone shed some light on what may of happened before I start my research tomorrow. Thanks in advance.

[davemate]

Very much sounds like gear box cables to me. Take off the centre console for a good look, and check the left and right adjustment by getting someone to wiggle the stick. This is what went on mine at Le man's, but mine was stiff rather than not working.

[siztenboots]

if you reach down to the gearbox can you rotate and engage in and out the selector shaft

[slindborg]

Sounds like a ball join has popped off or something in the shifter housing has failed.

[Mike (Cliffie)]

Sounds more like the bolt or split pin has come out of the shifter gearbox end and is stopping the mechanism, either that or the mech is bent. If it were a cable, you would either only get front/rear movement (3rd & 4th) or left/right which would leave you stuck in gear or neutral. This happened on the race car testing at Snetterton and Lee soon had it fixed. Dan, do you have a quick shift?

[SteveA]

something in the shifter housing has failed.

This would be where my money is. I would say most probably the little prong that moves the selector fork towards the bell housing has snapped. They are not particularly strong TBH. I have one out of the box that has failed in the same way if you want to see a photo of it?

[Dan 4]

Thanks for the help guys. After having another look and a test this morning, both ball joints are attached at the the gear box and the gear stick. I can select 2nd, 4th and reverse gears which all work but then I can't come out of them into neutral and I can't select 1st, 3rd and 5th gear at all. My first thoughts would have been a snapped selector cable which went on the shift into 3rd and the snap forced the selector into 2nd gear where it originally got stuck. After a few comments above I am unsure on that now as I know some (probably most) know a lot more than I do about the VX. I don't have a quick shift Cliffie. Yes Steve, a photo would help thanks.

[siztenboots]

wonder if its the detent springs

[SteveA]

I have a box split apart at the moment so I can show you what is happening internally when you are trying to change gear and how the missing shift prong would give the results you are seeing. I'll try and record a video tonight.

[Dan 4]

So.... After another look just now I decided to pop of the ball joint at the gear stick end and I was able to remove the ball joint and arm piece. This is because the selector cable has snapped off at the bottom of the arm. I better start looking for a new or good condition used selector cable and a fitting guild!!

[siztenboots]

eliseshop have some http://elise-shop.co...a-p-502360.html

[Dan 4]

eliseshop have some

http://elise-shop.co...a-p-502360.html

I have seen that thanks. I'm trying to find just the selector cable needed and cheaper than that price if I can.

[jhinchy]

The very same thing happened my car tonight, I can only get second, fourth and reverse. Doesnt feel like a cable, just like something is stopping the gear lever from going far enough forward to select 1, 3 or 5. Il investigate it tomorrow after work, hopefuly its nothing too major, as im booked in for a trackday next friday!

[Dan 4]

The very same thing happened my car tonight, I can only get second, fourth and reverse. Doesnt feel like a cable, just like something is stopping the gear lever from going far enough forward to select 1, 3 or 5.
Il investigate it tomorrow after work, hopefuly its nothing too major, as im booked in for a trackday next friday!

How did the investigation go? If you can select back out of 2nd, 4th and reverse then it won't be a snapped cable. Maybe one of the selector arms on the box has bent??

[jhinchy]

It was a free fix! A part of the wiring loom got caught on the selector arms on the gearbox, no damage done to selector or wiring

[Dan 4]

It was a free fix! A part of the wiring loom got caught on the selector arms on the gearbox, no damage done to selector or wiring

Good result. Wish mine was the same but new selector cables fitted and the VX is back!!

[DarrylB]

I had exactly this - I went for first as the lights went green and SNAP! I had to reach in the engine bay and manually select a gear, lucky I got second gear first time! and trundled back home. Have fun routing the new cables