Hi guys,

My 05 fabia has developed a minor problem after being left standing for a while in 1st gear - the return spring seems to have gone, so when the stick is in neutral, it no longer returns from the side to the centre position. Easily drivable, but feels weird - so when changing from 2nd to 3rd, it no longer springs to the centre by itself, and easy to accidentally go into 1st.

Does anyone know where the spring is located, and how I might get to it? Am hoping it isn't inside the gearbox..

Had a search on here and the problem has been mentioned, but no clue on how to fix. Am wanting to sell the car and worried this might put a new buyer off.

Thanks

Jon

The gear linkage on the Fabia is under the air box, try removing it and have a look under there.

The spring you're thinking of is actually under the gear selector gaiter - and I am not convinced you can get to it to change it....

You might try lifting the gaitor and giving the selector mechanism below a good dose of spray grease over everything. The grease may have dried out a bit and some extra lube might just sort things.

Thanks guys, had another play with the car today and I think the spring is fine (maybe a touch weak, not sure) but the gear stick itself is a tiny bit sticky - with a slight nudge the stick will self centre. The gear select itself is fine and the box is very smooth, so I suspect like you say LB123 a bit of grease over the bushings will free it up fine so will have a look later.

Thanks all.

Edited 22 May, 201214 yr by Jonboy99