T5 Not Engaging Easily

[Mercury-BA]

G'day everyone,

Havin a bit of trouble with my 03 BA's gear box. Its the usual T5 box, but yes, for some reason it started playin up a few months ago and feels like its gradually getting worse. What happens is, as I go from 2nd into 3rd, rather then the gear leaver returning to the center of the H pattern as it normally does, it kind of sticks between 1at and 2nd. With a bit of a wiggle it will move into the center where I can then change into 3rd and 4th, but then when I go into 5th, unless I make sure I am holding the leaver rather hard to the right before I push it into gear, it will grind a tiny bit as if it just isnt quite aligned properly. Reverse is a bitch, I have to basically move the gear leaver up almost into 5th and then slam it down to get it to gear... at which point when I take it out of reverse my reversing lights stay on!

Ahhhh... it seems every day something else is going wrong with this car... as I am sure many of you can relate lol

Anyone got any ideas?

[BensXR6T]

Sounds like the box is on it's last legs mate. The T5 is notoriously weak, and running a button clutch behind it would have shortened it life considerably especially with 280rwkw.

You're better off to dump the box and put in a T56.

Cheers,

Ben

[XR06T]

I would check the tightness of the bolts holding the stick in place. these came loose on my car and I had similar problems to what you describe.

there are 2 12mm (iirc) bolts just under the leather boot. you should be able to lift the piece of the console straight up by getting your fingers under where the leather meets the plastic.