Z4 gear change problem

[lez]

Can any one tell me what might be wrong with my z4 gear change it has become quite hard to select a gear when standing still but is fine when driving along , any ideas would be helpfull

 

[Adamski]

Hi lez, can you let us know what model, year etc your zed is?

 

[MrPT]

I take it that this is neutral => 1st we're talking about since you mention "standing still"? The change will be stiffer in cold weather due to higher viscosity of the transmission oil. Do you do a proper de-clutch when you stop or just stay on the clutch until it's time to pull away?

 

[bcworkz]

Do you do a proper de-clutch when you stop or just stay on the clutch until it's time to pull away?

Good question! The synchro cannot work unless the input shaft is spinning. When all the bits are stationary, it's hit or miss that the dog teeth are aligned enough to engage. Cold thick oil makes it even less likely a slight misalignment can be corrected unless the input shaft is spinning. For the shaft to still be spinning, you must have only very recently clutched. If you've been on the clutch for a while, the shaft will have spun down and stopped.

 

[miln0039]

Do you do a proper de-clutch when you stop or just stay on the clutch until it's time to pull away?

Good question! The synchro cannot work unless the input shaft is spinning. When all the bits are stationary, it's hit or miss that the dog teeth are aligned enough to engage. Cold thick oil makes it even less likely a slight misalignment can be corrected unless the input shaft is spinning. For the shaft to still be spinning, you must have only very recently clutched. If you've been on the clutch for a while, the shaft will have spun down and stopped.

This in my experience. Found my 3.0si Coupe could be a bit stiff going into first a few times, changing this habit fixed it.

Although just bunging it into 2nd and pulling away is also easy enough if 1st is being tricky

 

[lez]

the year is 05 2.2 with 39,000 on the clock ,
I have to try and throw it into 1st 2nd then reveres a
Few times before reversing off my drive , if the
Weather is a big contributor them will be relieved
If not then any ideas as to what to do next before
the garage guy sucks his checks with a large bill of repair

 

[lez]

I take it that this is neutral => 1st we're talking about since you mention "standing still"? The change will be stiffer in cold weather due to higher viscosity of the transmission oil. Do you do a proper de-clutch when you stop or just stay on the clutch until it's time to pull away?

I have been trying a full de clutch to but have same thing , but hopefully it is as you have said due to cold weather and I do not drive it very often

 

[bcworkz]

One thing to try that is not expensive and likely to help, though not cure the problem is to change the oil in the transmission. Maybe even consider a slightly lighter weight than spec, whatever that is. The oil spec is hard to find because the oil is supposed to be "lifelong". (Yeah, right. :thumbsdown: ) It should be in the TIS, or you may find something here, as others have been trying to find it as well.

 

[lez]

Thanks will look I to that

 

[lez]

Hi lez, can you let us know what model, year etc your zed is?

Hi yea it's a 05 2.2 with 39,000 miles I don't use it much and have found that if I place into 1st before starting the engine it's ok but still have to put into reverse after to drive of the drive way

 

[sam1832]

I think ive got the bottle of the gearbox oil in my garage still I will check it and let you have the spec so you can get some

This cold weather combined with the fact I dont drive the z much in the winter is making a few gear selections hard

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

[lez]

That would be great many thanks

 

[bcworkz]

...have found that if I place into 1st before starting the engine it's ok but still have to put into reverse after to drive of the drive way

If it works fine with the engine off but not when it's running, there could be an issue with the clutch not completely disengaging. This seems to contradict my previous bit about spinning input shafts, but it makes a difference if the shaft is free spinning on it's own or it is being driven by the engine.