Help,

I've got a lovely 1996 1.3GLXi Felicia which I've owned for a short while. There's always been a bit of play in the gearstick (about an inch each side) but it appears to be getting worse to the point where it took four attempt to find reverse yesterday.

I'm aware of other posts on similar matters regarding likages but before I take it to a mechanic I would like some reassurance that he isn't going to tell me I need a new gearbox, because I can cope with the problem for now and can't afford a new gearbox.

Also, does anyone know of a reputable mechanic who's good with Skoda's in the Bristol area?

What are your thoughts?

That sounds to me like play in the linkage. There is a sort of universal joint just close to where the linkage connects to the selector shaft on the gearbox, which can wear, and when it does, you get the play that you describe.

If you have the wherewithall, I suggest either putting the car on ramps or jacking it up, and getting someone to move the stick around whilst you observe the linkage from underneath. It should be pretty obvious where the play is - probably either where the linkage connects to the selector shaft, or in the UJ just before that. The other suspect is that the linkage steady bar could be loose - it bolts to a little stub on the side of the box, and if loose, can cause the problems you describe.

There are a couple of types of linkage, but it can be as simple as replacing a few pounds worth of bushes, seals and pins. I did mine over the weekend, and it has made a massive difference.

cheers

James

:iagree:

i would also check the rear engine mount isn't getting old and saggy

getting old and saggy

Viagra!!!

Mine is the same and I've bought some spare bushes, rubber bits and a pin, and when I get some time going to give it a good luck over. I wobbled mine from underneath and it wasn't clear where the problem was. If I didn't know wnything about it I would have thought it was a problem at the gear stick itself somewhere above the bottom end which bolts to the selector shaft.

Mine is the same and I've bought some spare bushes, rubber bits and a pin, and when I get some time going to give it a good luck over. I wobbled mine from underneath and it wasn't clear where the problem was. If I didn't know wnything about it I would have thought it was a problem at the gear stick itself somewhere above the bottom end which bolts to the selector shaft.

That's not beyond the realms of the possible. There's a sort of expanding nylon bush with two rubber o-rings around it, into which the pivot bearing (basically a ball welded to the gear stick) sits, and this in turn is held into a metal cup that forms part of the steady bar (there's a circlip, acessible from the top - e.g. inside the car - that holds it in place)

This nylon cup could have worn, which would cause problems above where the stick joins the selector shaft. I'd be a little surprised though, since when I rebuilt mine (on a well-used rally car) there was no play around this area at all - it was all in the universal joint (and boy, was there play there)

There's a sort of expanding nylon bush with two rubber o-rings around it, into which the pivot bearing (basically a ball welded to the gear stick) sits, and this in turn is held into a metal cup that forms part of the steady bar (there's a circlip, acessible from the top - e.g. inside the car - that holds it in place)

I mayaswell get hold of the bits you mention and replace them anyway, as better to put in a near-perfect linkage than fiddle for ages. Just noticed the favorit and felicia linkages are slightly different but assumed they were the same (so I'm entirely wrong).

By the universal joint do you mean the bit near the front pictured in this thread? http://www.briskoda.net/forums/felicia-fun-forman/felicia-wobbly-gearstick-linkages-remote-locking/87431/

The one pictured appears to be modified, the original does not appear to be dismantleable. any tips on getting inside it to replace the bushes? (This is the same question asked in that thread but there's no answer to it.)

Cheers Chaps,

I'll get it up on Stands and have a look.

Where's the best place to get hod of bushes, I guess if this is a common problem a scrappers yard won't be much help?

ebay is you best bet, there is a seller of there that sells all sorts of stuff for felicia's, but off hand i cant remember thier name at the moment, i'm sure sombody will be along and tell us soon

Viagra!!!

bit off topic tht lol very rude tut tut

Jorily shop on ebay will probably have them if you give him a buzz. Or if your Skoda dealer has them available they cost next to nothing anyway. I got hold of 6 but not sure if I can get inside the bit with 4 in. I also got the plastic sleeve, washers and top clip as spares in case needed and they didn't cost too much.

I mayaswell get hold of the bits you mention and replace them anyway, as better to put in a near-perfect linkage than fiddle for ages. Just noticed the favorit and felicia linkages are slightly different but assumed they were the same (so I'm entirely wrong).

By the universal joint do you mean the bit near the front pictured in this thread? http://www.briskoda.net/forums/felicia-fun-forman/felicia-wobbly-gearstick-linkages-remote-locking/87431/

The one pictured appears to be modified, the original does not appear to be dismantleable. any tips on getting inside it to replace the bushes? (This is the same question asked in that thread but there's no answer to it.)

On a standard car, there are some pins that take the place of the bolts in that photograph. To get them out, I just filed one end off, and then tw4tted it with a punch to get it out - it all came apart really easily.

When you replace them (with new parts), you just beat them with a ball ended hammer - a bit like a rivet. I put a thick washer under the other end to make sure there was some protruding at each end whilst I did this. The pins are pretty soft, so you can easily make them nice and tight with a hammer. Or you could replace them with bolts, if you can find some that are a nice snug fit to the inside of the bush.

I got the parts for mine from the dealer. I replaced most of the small parts for the linkage, and it might actually have been cheaper just to buy a new linkage or a good scrap one.

Just looked on Etos and you can buy the selector rod with the selection joint as one part (the whole bit between the joint with the pin and the joint where it joins the gear stick), I am presuming ready assembled with bushes, and a spring pin, so would be much easier. I'll phone up a dealer and ask how much they are, I'm guessing maybe £15 but parts prices don't seem to follow any sensible pattern.

For the Favorit

Part number: 007 506 547

For Felicia

selector rod with selec. joint

10.94 - 01.95

Part number: 007 506 547

selector rod with selec. joint

for reinforced body

02.95 - 08.96

Part number: 007 506 550

10.96 onwards

pull rod - gearshift joint (1.6mpi, 1.9d)

Part number: 6U0 711 151

selector shaft - gearshift joint (1.3mpi)

Part number: 6U0 711 151 A

reinforced body??????????

reinforced body??????????

I'm not sure what that means, it's in the parts catalogue. Maybe later felicia's had reinforced bodies? Interestingly Skoda call bump stops "helper springs" so if it means something else it wouldn't be the first confusion in their parts system.

For the Favorit

Part number: 007 506 547

£68.32 excl vat :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Probably cheaper to get the pins out, and maybe replace with a nut and bolt, although the pins themselves don't sound too difficult to work with.