Reverse gear?

[otisb]

Hi all
my mums forfour is playing up
when you go to put it in reverse it crunchers but all the other gears are ok.
is it something I can sort out or is it a garage job?
thanks for any info

[otisb]

Re: Reverse gear?

Anyone?

[Thrumbleux]

Re: Reverse gear?

Anyone?

Only me it seems.....
Generally speaking difficulty in engaging gears at rest is caused by poor clutch adjustment (not clearing). If the bite point is close to the floor then that's the clue.
If this is an automated clutch then (presumably) the same advice for other smarts holds true - service the clutch actuator.
Given that it's only reverse (or is selecting first gear on its way to being troublesome also?) that's an issue here it could be worn synchro (if present) in which case expensive to fix. Easier to work around it by giving more time to engage.
Hopefully someone au fait with forfours will be along to advise better - or tell you you posted in the wrong forum. Ho hum......

[problemchild1976]

Re: Reverse gear?

my response from another site

how long have you/she had the car?

its very common and if you try and do it quickly it will crunch.

my advice...... drive along, stop, neutral, release clutch, depress clutch, reverse!

I naturally do that or, if in a rush, i slowly ease the car into reverse as i raise the clutch and it normally goes in about 80% into the release of the clutch.

in short - nothing to worry about unless you are getting issues in other gears like going from 2nd to 1st as you stop and it crunches a bit.

JJ

[otisb]

Re: Reverse gear?

Thanks all for the info from the forfour site

[madDan]

Re: Reverse gear?

Give it a gear box oil change while you are at it, empty out the bits of cog teeth!

[tolsen]

Re: Reverse gear?

Rear gear is not synchronized and may therefore crunch a wee bit on any car especially if clutch is binding and poorly adjusted. Double declutching ought to work but will require some practice. Synch rings on forward gears will suffer damage if clutch is binding and nothing is done about it.

[Jimmyrinse]

Re: Reverse gear?

I thought that the reverse gear crunch was quite a common thing with the forfour?

Both mine did it, now i've just got into the habit if im reversing from start up of putting it in 1st then with the clutch still down straight into reverse and it seems to go in no problems.

Either that or put it in reverse and hold the gear lever in the reverse position, as you slowly release the clutch you will feel it fall in all the way.

[problemchild1976]

Re: Reverse gear?

excellent post jimmy

JJ

[otisb]

Re: Reverse gear?

Give it a gear box oil change while you are at it, empty out the bits of cog teeth!

Anyone know what gear box oil it needs? 1.1 on a 54 plate. Thanks

[otisb]

Re: Reverse gear?

O and how much do I need for it?
thanks

[madDan]

Re: Reverse gear?

something like

1.7 litres of API GL-5, SAE 75W90 semi-synthetic transmission fluid

http://www.opieoils.co.uk/product-finder/car/engine-oil/smart/2005/forfour/PETROL/forfour/31284/product-finder-2.aspx


Probably listed in the handbook i'd hope?

[problemchild1976]

Re: Reverse gear?

not sure why it needs changing.....

JJ

[madDan]

Re: Reverse gear?

Surely all that crunching won't be doing it any favours, for the cost of a few litres of gear box oil why not? at least it'll give you an idea if no/some/loads of metal is carried out in the old oil.

[otisb]

Re: Reverse gear?

I will get it changed asap it's not doing it all the time I would say 60-70% of the time