Stiff gearchange on 1999 Citroen Xantia

[goddardo]

Had clutch cable & plastic clip changed a year or so back so clutch is fairly light & smooth, but still experiencing stiff/Clunky gear change. Any ideas folks ?

 

[NewOrder]

Linkage?

 

[goddardo]

Possibly so. Would that be a big job ?

 

[Mark Elvin]

Is it a cable linkage?

 

[goddardo]

Not sure.
Either way, it sounds like it could be more than the car's worth.
I'll make do with it for a while.

 

[Peter.N.]

Do you mean its difficult to get into gear and change gears or it crunches when you change?

 

[goddardo]

Do you mean its difficult to get into gear and change gears or it crunches when you change?

The gears don't crunch, but the stick movement seems stiff & clunky.
You have to be precise with the gear stick for them to operate properly.
The gear shift has a gritty, almost un-lubricated sound/feel, but there was gear oil present on the last check

 

[Peter.N.]

OK that means that you have something out of alignment or seized or worn on the linkage. Shouldn't be to difficult a job for a mechanic but if you can see any of the linkage which will be between the gearbox and the bulkhead, try squirting some lubricant on the joints, copper grease would be ideal.

 

[TicklyT]

It's not unknown for engine mounting rubbers to settle over time, throwing the gear linkage out of alignment.

A new torque stay mounting rubber worked wonders for the gear shift on one of the old Volvos I had years ago.

 

[goddardo]

Really appreciate your advice guys.
I'll get under the car this weekend & see if there's any Linkeage parts I can reach to lubricate. Failing that, I will ask the guy who does my car to look further at what you've suggested.

On another note, my Xantia is very slow at rising/sinking when I reset the height lever. Sometimes, the front end takes ages to return to driving/mid position & remains pointing front upwards for a while.
This settles after a while. Any thoughts on this guys ?

 

[Peter.N.]

The behaviour is pretty individual to each car, it depends primaraly on the overall condition of the hydraulics. the height control valves can become sticky, this will slow down any reaction, this can usually be rectified by the application of some WD40 to them, several applications over several days is usually needed.

If you don't know where they are, look along the anti roll bars and you will see a clamp around them, follow the linkage and on the other end you will find the height control valve, lubricate the ball joints on the linkage, especially where it is connected to the valve, once they are nice and loose put some ordinary oil or grease on them.

I have three XMs and they all behave differently, as long as the suspension rises and stays in the correct position I wouldn't worry to much but the valve linkage would definitly benifit from some lubrication or they could seize up completely.

 

[goddardo]

Thanks for that.
Here's a picture. Please could you point out the area you mean.

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[Peter.N.]

A third of the way along from the right at the lower front of the picture you can see the anti roll bar with the clamp round it, the height correction valve is behind it.

 

[goddardo]

Thanks again.

I squirted some WD40 around those areas + on the gear Linkage joints I could see moving in the engine bay & there was a definite improvement in the gearshift smoothness, also the suspension height works properly now, so success all round thanks. I'll keep spraying WD40 every day as you suggest, then go round with some Copper grease spray at the weekend

 

[Peter.N.]

Excellent, keep up the good work.