the gearstick isnt returning to neutral between 3rd and 4th gears.this happened about 2 months ago now but had happened before but seemed to right itself.

since it has happened i have noticed a whirring noise that comes from the front of the car.but also at this time i had my tyres changed and the front passenger wheel was badly buckled so i dont know if thats whats responsible for the whirring noise(it only happens at around 35mph+ and you dont hear it if driving uphill) or whatever the problem with the gearstick is.

i have wiggled the gearstick left and right and can hear a very quiet clink of metal like if a spring broke and the 2 bits tapped together.

does anyone know of the spring snapping and if they do is it a big job and how costly.thanks.

p.s. im waiting to change the wheels over on the car to see if it is the front passenger wheel making the whirring noise(cheap 2nd hand tyre) or if it could be the wheel bearing though wheels were checked in mot at xmas and no wheel bearing fault was found.

In most cars the gear stick is springs loaded, but if its been an intermittent problem I would say its more likely a problem with the gear linkage, not sure about octy but lots have plastic bushes within the metal that do wear

The self-centring springs are normally at the base of the lever, rather than in the gearbox, so I think you have 2 unrelated issues.

1 is probably a broken self-centring spring.

As to the other, wheel bearings normally get louder the faster you go, rather than only being audible at one speed. They're also loud enough to be annoying.

The self-centring springs are normally at the base of the lever, rather than in the gearbox, so I think you have 2 unrelated issues.

1 is probably a broken self-centring spring.

As to the other, wheel bearings normally get louder the faster you go, rather than only being audible at one speed. They're also loud enough to be annoying.

i spray a load of lithium grease on the gear linkage under the bonnet today and it hasnt really improved the centring problem so i think it is the spring that has broken.(does anyone know how much these are to replace.)

today i changed over the wheel as not only was there the new tyre but the wheel was badly buckled(had 2 full strips of weights on it, ill use that as the spare from now on) and the difference was unbelievable.aswell as that as i was turning left and right i could hear plastic grinding and found that 2 screws on the wheel arch had pulled out. 1 in front of the wheel and one at the back, but it had pulled through the little plastic block that the screws screw into.i pushed these back in so if it happens again ill try to get new little plastic bits.but the whirring has now gone.

thanks for the replies guys.it takes the worry out of things when there is people to give decent advice.

In most cars the gear stick is springs loaded, but if its been an intermittent problem I would say its more likely a problem with the gear linkage, not sure about octy but lots have plastic bushes within the metal that do wear

it has no problem finding the gears or the gears dont feel stiff

this problem is solved. a mate of mine with a bit more mechanical nowce took the gear linkage apart and oiled it all up for me. the whole linkage had started to seize

a spray now and then with white grease will help that