Wobbly gear lever in any gear

[OttoCar]

So I just had a new clutch and gear selector cables fitted. Thing I’ve noticed is that there is a lot of movement in the gear lever when in any gear. It almost moves as much as it does when in neutral. I don’t recall it being like that before. Is that normal?

[TonyHSD]

If you have noticed any difference after the work done very likely they hadn’t done it correctly or something it’s not right and best to visit the garage again for further checks. There is always a free play in any moving part but how much is normal I can’t say. You know your car the best. Try the mechanics and see what they will suggest. 

[OttoCar]

Thanks. The play is around 5 or 6cm in some directions. I’m sure that’s not what it was. I’ll take it back.

[flash22]

If it's up in the miles, the ball on the shifter/socket is worn, there is an aftermarket repair kit, but they don't seem to be available ATM

Replace the shifter, is it a 5 or 6 speed ??

[OttoCar]

1 hour ago, flash22 said:

If it's up in the miles, the ball on the shifter/socket is worn, there is an aftermarket repair kit, but they don't seem to be available ATM

Replace the shifter, is it a 5 or 6 speed ??

It's 8 years old and around 77k miles. 6 speed.  I've never noticed that much movement before which makes me suspicious that it's related to the clutch/cables change. Even if it's unrelated I'm surprised the garage didn't notice it. It's like stirring a bowl of soup!

[Stevie J]

5 or 6 cm play when in gear is not right at all - I wouldnt expect that much play in a car with 77K miles on it. They must have done something wrong and you should definitely take it back there and say the play is unacceptable.

My car, a late 2014 car, 30K on the clock, when the gearstick is in any gear has very little play, it goes into a definite gearstick postion depending on the gear selected, and does not have massive side to side play and slop. If the car was not like it before they had it and did the work, and now it is that bad, then its obvious they must have omitted to tighten something or fit something back properly in the gear linkage.

Why did you need to have the clutch and linkages changed anyway at just 77K? Seems unusual for the linkages to need replacing, OK, the clutch itself may be a bit worn by that mileage, but I'm wondering why they needed to change the linkages as well.

[OttoCar]

I have taken the car back and they agree it's not right so it's booked in again. The original problem was that the car broke down with a clutch failure. The car was revving but little power. I just managed to limp to a safe location by which time you could smell the issue. Anyway the garage said they simply could not detach the linkages. They tried everything including heat. So they had no option but to cut them off. So they replaced them with a new set from Toyota. As well as the excessive play, there's a particular issue with selecting 2nd gear when downshifting from 3rd. So yes, something has not been fitted/adjusted correctly it seems.

[flash22]

opps i forgot to hit submit reply

The cable is out of adjustment, or they fitted the wrong set of cables there is a difference between the 5 and 6 speed cables

xp130 manual shift adjust.pdf

 

[OttoCar]

On 8/4/2023 at 9:32 AM, flash22 said:

opps i forgot to hit submit reply

The cable is out of adjustment, or they fitted the wrong set of cables there is a difference between the 5 and 6 speed cables

xp130 manual shift adjust.pdf 763.87 kB · 3 downloads

 

Thanks. I took the car back and the 'wobble' has been fixed. However it's still not going into 2nd/1st without having to whack the gear lever hard over to the left. That's particularly noticeable when changing down from 3rd to 2nd. All movements up/down the other combinations are fine. They seem to think that's a syncromesh issue...but it seems a massive coincidence that it has never had that issue before and only started once they replaced clutch and gear linkage cables. How would a 5 speed cable even work with a 6 speed box?

[flash22]

The linkage is still out of adjustment, by the sounds of it

the 6 speed will have a longer reach left to right

 

iirc the 6 speed has reverse top left in its own gate, 5 speed, reverse is bottom right under 5th

if it's an aftermarket cable, they are mainly 5 speed cables

[OttoCar]

Yes, 6 speed reverse is top left. The cable is a Toyota part (the garage said it was only available from Toyota...at a cool £500). If it was a 5 speed cable...could I even select gear 6?

[flash22]

Can you get reverse ok ??

edit. Are the engine mounts ok ? if the lower dog bone is loose or the rubbers have gone, it will cause the engine to twist/rock when under load, say when changing down using engine braking, try driving using the brakes and not engine braking a few times and see if it changes down any differently

[OttoCar]

Yes that seems fine. I mean it struggles occasionally and I have to de-clutch but I'm pretty sure it's always been like that. Certainly nowhere near the pain I currently have with 2nd. The car will be going to Toyota soon for servicing so I'm thinking I'm just going to ask them to take a look. Assuming the correct part has been fitted then it would seem like it's just not adjusted correctly.

[flash22]

see my edit above.