2007 Petrol Fiesta - Sometimes Problem Changing Gear

[WSB]

Sometimes I have problems getting my 2007 petrol Fiesta into gear. But the issue is very intermittent and not consistent.

Not sure whether this is pure coincidence or not but find if the car has had a motorway drive, after getting onto local roads afterwards, can be very hard to change gear.

Can go for days though without any issue, then just starts doing it again.

My immediate thought goes to the clutch but was also wondering whether it could be the cable just needing adjusting. Unless of course, it has a hydraulic clutch?

Just looking for ideas, suggestions etc before I take it to the garage.

Thanks

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

My immediate thought goes to the clutch but was also wondering whether it could be the cable just needing adjusting. Unless of course, it has a hydraulic clutch?

Best find out which of the two, first!

I seem to remember the cable type, had an automatic adjuster to take up slack, located at the clutch pedal. That auto-adjuster was plastic, and sometimes slipped after a bit of wear.

 

[WSB]

Best find out which of the two, first!

I seem to remember the cable type, had an automatic adjuster to take up slack, located at the clutch pedal. That auto-adjuster was plastic, and sometimes slipped after a bit of wear.

Thanks. What is the easiest way to find out?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Thanks. What is the easiest way to find out?

By looking? A cable attached to the pedal, suggests a cable. A push-rod suggests hydraulic.

 

[Mottie]

It will be hydraulic. Do you feel any 'sponginess' At the pedal when you are having trouble selecting gears?

 

[Burnerman]

Can you engage the gears easily with the engine off?
How does the pedal feel? It should be progressive as you press it, from the top to the bottom of it’s travel.
John

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Can you engage the gears easily with the engine off?
How does the pedal feel? It should be progressive as you press it, from the top to the bottom of it’s travel.
John

This.

Does the pedal feel different after it's used a bit?

 

[WSB]

No sponginess at all of the clutch pedal. Feels the same. Thanks

 

[WSB]

Can change gear easily with engine off as usual. Pedal feels the same. Thanks

 

[WSB]

Drove the car a long way today. No issues at all. Very weird and intermittent.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Drove the car a long way today. No issues at all. Very weird and intermittent.

Does the clutch 'biting point' change?

 

[WSB]

No, clutch biting point does not change. Thanks

 

[Burnerman]

What mileage has your car done?
Do you ever get a crunch when selecting reverse?
John

 

[WSB]

Car has done 11700 miles. Don't think it has ever had a new clutch. Given that info, first suspicion goes to having the clutch replaced.
However, it's the nature of the issue I'm seeing that makes me suspect, this is not the exact problem as a worn clutch would surely be consistently bad rather than intermittent, wouldn't it???

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

11700 miles

Did you miss off a zero?