Transit custom 2013 plate jumps out of 1st gear with a BANG!

[Tomsurrey]

Hi. My son has bought a Ford Transit custom van, over a year ago now, on a 2013 plate. Recently he has this problem where when he puts the van into 1st gear, from a standing start, then 1 out of 3 times it will slip out of gear with a nasty BANG! All the other gears are fine.

Seems strange that a quality Ford van would do this at an early age... reason why he bought the Custom was due to getting something that would be reliable.

Done lots of searches online - but nothing positive was found... anyone have an idea as to what the problem could be?

Thanks... Tom

[loot]

I wonder if the cable has stretched?
What's the mileage?

[Tomsurrey]

Hello Loot.. I feel a bit bad really... I should have introduced myself first... as I belong to another forum for electrical engineers for over 12 years - and thats what newcomers do... so if anyone wants any info on anything electrical then please visit the forum that I belong to... it really is the best in the world.. all helpful, some awkward... as you can guess... http://www.theiet.org/Forums/forum/categories.cfm?catid=205&flcache=6428500&entercat=y

ANYWAYS... I believe the mileage is around 50k... I have read up about the two cables... one being for the forward gears and I believe the other ones for the neutral or reverse? My son thought we could adjust the cable but found out that there isnt any adjustment - seems like it just needs to be changed over... could it be anything else like the 1st gear needs changing?

Thanks for you reply BTW!!

Thanks - Tom

[loot]

Hi Tom, it could be the gearbox but I'd much rather check the cables first lol, however, 50k seems a bit low for cable stretch unless the van was a delivery van going up and down the gears all day long, 1 cable is forward and backward the other is left right (this can be adjusted under the gear lever gator) but none of them will fix a stretched forward reverse.

If i was to test it i would select first gear then I'd find the gear selector joint on the box and I'd disconnect the knuckle i believe it is, press the middle and pull off, and then I'd work out if there was any room to move at the box ie. The cable was maxed out but the selector wasn't.

Depending on the severity of it jumping out of first, you could drive somewhere safe and open and select first and disconnect the cable then try and see if you can move off and pop it out of gear, that would tell you conclusively whether it is the box or cable.

I'd rather it be the cable tho as I'd expect if first was faulty that there would be wear on other gears as well as the clutch etc.

Not a very scientific answer but you need to diagnose the problem

[Tomsurrey]

Hello Loot... it sounds like a way forward... my sons back soon and when he is I'll pop over to his house and see what we can do... thanks again!

regards - Tom

[WILLIE HANGON]

Hi, I have a 2015 Custom that from time to time struggles to go into 2nd, could this be caused by the cable issue?

[loot]

It's the first thing to check, simple things first and discount them until you get to this point




The good news was they found the squeak

[Tomsurrey]

My sons back and we'll change the cables soon to see if that the problem... the thing is... on my X type Jag estate on an 05 plate... when I bought it some plus years ago... the 1st gear and sometimes the 2nd gear would not go in properly. I decided to get the gearbox oil change, as advised on a Jag forum... many times by one person while everyone else was suggesting everything else!

My car went in for an MOT and I asked them to do a oil change... it was better... but the car went in the following year for another MOT and I asked them to change the oil again and add an additive... now its 99.9% perfect... so why not change your gearbox oil too?

Good luck! Tom