Will not go in to 5th gear or back in reverse

[tigers1941]

I am hoping this may be some thing simple wrong, but knowing my luck recently I dread to think.
I was driving from Worksop to visit my partner who is in a care home in Retford at the moment, could not get it in to 5th gear, when I reached Retford it went in to reverse but wanted to drive forward, so reverse gear not working either
In the last few months I have had new rear sills, new clutch, new alternator, I was hoping for a spell of trouble free motoring

[slovcan]

Originally Posted by tigers1941

I am hoping this may be some thing simple wrong, but knowing my luck recently I dread to think.
I was driving from Worksop to visit my partner who is in a care home in Retford at the moment, could not get it in to 5th gear, when I reached Retford it went in to reverse but wanted to drive forward, so reverse gear not working either
In the last few months I have had new rear sills, new clutch, new alternator, I was hoping for a spell of trouble free motoring

My first thought is that your shifter cable has gone out of adjustment. It may well be related to the clutch change recently. If you can still drive it take it back to the folks who replaced the clutch. Shouldn't be a problem.

Cheers,
Glenn

[tigers1941]

Thank you I have since read an old thread and it said it could be the cable, I had a new alternator put on last week I wonder if that has anything to do with it, you may have gathered I am not very technical.
Thank you for your help

[macafee2]

in truth I have no idea but check both cables at the gearbox end.
Both should be held in place by a "spring clip" in a bracket, has one of these Brocken? If one of them has snapped you are welcome to pop over and I will sort you out a replacement. I dont recall ever seening a thread where one has snapped.

macafee2

[tigers1941]

Originally Posted by macafee2

in truth I have no idea but check both cables at the gearbox end.
Both should be held in place by a "spring clip" in a bracket, has one of these Brocken? If one of them has snapped you are welcome to pop over and I will sort you out a replacement. I dont recall ever seening a thread where one has snapped.

macafee2

Thank you, I will get it checked and keep what you say in mind
Thank you

[trikey]

I’d guess at the rubber has perished on the end of the cable at the gearbox end causing loss of selection, a cheap fix is a Vauxhall bracket (google Vauxhall gear selector bracket)

[Rich in Vancouver]

Perished rubbers at the cable end is also a common issue on MGFs, although worse with them as one of the cable ends is directly under the gearbox and vulnerable to oil contamination.

[tigers1941]

Flamingo motors in Worksop had my car in on Monday and they solved the problem, the garage that changed the alternator last week also charged up my battery which was flat, the little plastic overflow pipe on the battery had dropped in the engine compartment and was stopping the car using 5th and reverse gear.
The mechanic took a photo to show me where it had dropped, can't praise Flamingo motors for how I was treated, they will be getting my custom next time.

I think you missed out "enough"!

[trikey]

Thats a bizarre one, glad your garage sorted it