2000 Vito CDi manual won't hold 3rd gear

[d215yq]

Hi all,

My friend's Vito won't hold 3rd gear. The gear change in general doesn't seem to be very positive and has slowly gone that way over the last few years but works fine in all gears except in 3rd where it just won't engage at all. The gearstick stays in position and there's no crunching, it's like 3rd has become another neutral gear.

The first thing I thought is the linkage...is that likely and is it easy to get to? The gearstick on this van is high up and almost part of the dash. I can't see an obvious way to get into it...

The van has done 180k miles.

Thanks in advance,
Ben

 

[mattkh]

Can you start looking at the linkages from the gearbox end.

 

[ajlsl600]

Check for slop in linkage or shot ball joint on rods.
Failing that can you get in into third manually without linkage.
Worst scenario fork worn and cant shove sincro over to lock gear or excess endfloat means selector pushing gear along shaft rather than sincro locking gear.most likely linkage issue.

 

[d215yq]

Thanks for the replies, is there any isntructions or anything for linkages. If it was mine I'd start taking it apart from the inside (well actually I'd probably just keep driving it without 3rd )but as it's a friend's I only want to start dismantling it when it's a known quantity what I'm looking for and what's involved...

 

[ajlsl600]

If its common u will find something on utube