J reg. 1600 petrol 5-speed Cavalier saloon. Changing up through N/1st./2nd. it's sometimes hard to get it in gear. Changing down, ditto. Sometimes a slight crunch changing gear. No other nasty noises. I put some oil in the gearbox a while ago, but the difficulty in changing has got worse in the last fortnight. No idea how much oil should be in there, or how to check the level, I put in C. 1/3 litre of light EP80. Any ideas what's up?
Crunchy Cavalier gear change.
Nov 30, 2005
18 Replies
Check the clutch cable adjustment.
sounds like it needs new clutch if cable is ok
you should have filled through the bung that is by the driveshaft, fill it till fluid comes back out, also instead of ep80/90 try ATF oil in the box instead, but as Connor says check the clutch adjustment as well.
ATF? automatic transmission fluid? Shirley EP90 or 80 would be the correct stuff to use?
you can run Vauxhall gearboxes on atf in fact fords run on a * similar * fluid as well, haven't got the spec to hand at the mo.
Er no, they run on a proper 75/90 gear oil.
Have you checked the clutch cable adjustment? - what you describe are classic symptoms of an out-of-adjustment cable. Its a piece of cake, but you do need e.g. the Haynes manual for the right measurements etc. of clutch travel measured at the pedal.
Another possibility that hasn't been mentioned is a worn synchro. Try double declutching. If that cures it, it might very well be the problem. Mike.
Most likely the clutch isn't clearing properly.
Perhaps most manual boxes use something like ATF these days. Some makers changed to it with exactly the same gearbox.
That will also mask a dragging clutch if done correctly.
Not sure. I had a Ford Escort that needed 'special' geabox oil.
sponix
Probably an MT75 box like my Focus then, it's a special spec but it's still a gear oil. Ford have now started speccing a 75/90 Castrol oil as a direct replacement anyway.
True, but he only mentions dificulty in changes between 1st and 2nd. I'd have thaught a dragging clutch would show signs in all gearchanges. I still think a worn synchro is a strong possibility though, bearing in mind it's year. I'd soon know which it is, if I had the car. :-) Mike.
A dragging clutch seems to effect the low gears more. Dunno why.
But on a J reg Cavalier?
Both Rover and Jaguar did it in the early '80s.
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