Gear select cable ends and stoppers

Hi

We've just bought an old 05 reg C3 for my daughter as her first car and over the weekend the reverse gear failed, I've fixed the problem but I'm wondering if what happened and what I'm seeing in the area is typical for a C3 of this age?

It's easier to explain with the use of an image.
I don't know what it's called but the blue and brown object had come loose from the metal slot it should sit in and re-seating it fixed the problem. You can see in the image the other similar object (white and brown) which I assume is part of the gear select for the non-reverse gears, is cable tied down.

My questions, if anyone can help is this a typical fix, have other members seen this before?

The image is with the air filter removed for access to the gear cable end.

Thanks for any help

Hi owners_dad

owners_dad wrote:I don't know what it's called but the blue and brown object had come loose from the metal slot it should sit in and re-seating it fixed the problem. You can see in the image the other similar object (white and brown) which I assume is part of the gear select for the non-reverse gears, is cable tied down.

The gear selector linkage has become worn and also damaged. You have to replace the complete set, they are available by clicking here (ebay), new parts.



Remove them from within the car after disconnecting (and cutting those cable ties)

Hi Arfur Dent

Thanks for the help. The damage and worn state of these selector cables would this indicate that the gearbox is likely to have problems also? The car's done about 76000 miles, from the maintenance log the last record of a service was about 22000 and from the V5C we're the 6th keepers - beginning to think we've bought a pup

Thanks

Hi owners_dad

I'm also an owner's dad, my daughter is strictly speaking the C3 owner, not me.

76,000 in itself shouldn't cause any problems, for a well maintained car it's nothing. Just because the service book hasn't been updated doesn't mean the car hasn't been serviced. Look for signs of service work being done, colour of oil, are all the fluids topped up, condition of brake pads/discs. Does it run well - apart from the gear change wear does the gearbox work OK now? You can also check that all the warning lights on the dash are working when the ignition is turned on and that they all go out within a few seconds.

If nothing else, someone has reset the service light, so some things must have been done.

Whenever we get a new car in the family, the first thing it gets is a full service, even if the seller says it's just been done. Not that I don't trust anyone but people's idea of simple things like an oil change vary. To me it's drain the oil, change the filter and drain plug washer (if appropriate) and refill. To other people it's suction out as much oil from the engine as you can and pour new into what's left!