Gear stick not centring in neutral once warm

[07peat]

I have a 2015 2.2l custom. When the van is cold, the gear stick will spring back to the centre, after maybe 20 minutes or so of driving, coming out of gear into neutral, the stick will then stay to the side, rather than springing back to centre.

So far I've sprayed the linkage with white grease, and disconnected the cable at the gear stick end, to confirm its not an issue with the shifter mechanism, but neither of these have worked.

I plan on replicating the problem, then disconnecting the cable at the linkage end, to see if the problem lies in the cable. If it does, does anyone know how to lubricate the cables? I've seen advice to lubricate them, but can't find any info on how to do it, when they sit in casing.

I may look to change the gearbox oil (vans at 115k miles) if its not the cables. But that feels like the extent of what I feel happy to do myself.

Has anyone else had any experience with this problem? And managed to find a solution?

Thanks!

[metalworker0]

are they all 6 speed after 2015

just trying to work out what box it is

if VMT6

i started looking on the net for common stuff on them .. and AI gave mere all this .. and just about says it all and saved me a lot of typing . couldnt put it any better myself



When a VMT6 transmission "jumps out of gear," the cause is usually related to worn internal components, gear selection mechanisms, or engine/transmission mounts.

Common Causes and Diagnosis
The most frequent causes for a manual transmission popping out of gear involve wear and tear over time:
Worn Internal Components: This is the most common issue.

Detent Springs and Balls: These small components hold the gear selector rails in place. If the springs are weak or broken, the gear may not be held in full engagement and can easily slip out.
Worn Gears and Synchros: The teeth and "dogs" that lock the gears together can wear down over time. When worn, they no longer mesh correctly, allowing the gear to disengage, especially under acceleration or deceleration.

Worn Selector Forks: The forks that move the gears inside the transmission can become worn, preventing them from pushing the gear into full mesh.

Gear Selector Mechanism/Linkage: well you are on to that


Misalignment or Damage: Problems with the external linkage, such as a bent connection rod or worn bushings/clips at the base of the shifter, can prevent the gear from being fully engaged.

Poor Adjustment: If new gear selector cables were recently installed, poor adjustment could cause poor selection and the gear to pop out.

Engine/Transmission Mounts:
Worn Mounts: Excessive movement of the engine and transmission due to worn-out mounts (especially the rear stabilizer on some models) can pull on the gear selector mechanism, causing it to pop out of gear.

Driving Habits:
Resting Your Hand on the Gear Stick: This habit can put excessive, constant pressure on the selector fork, leading to premature wear of the internal components.

The cables not mentioned though.. you know i would not think they are the trouble .. you'd have difficulty getting it into gear if that was so .. but you can oil them .. and if you ever do any external oiling on a car or van always use gear oil or machine oil, as engine oil is sort of makes things rust .. as it absorbs water ... there are gadgets and gizmos for oiling cables .. but you buy these if you have old
vintage cars/ motor bikes with no nylon liners in the cables. i always done it with plastic cut-up 500ml coke bottles taped into place.

but engine / gearbox mounts .. shaking about could pull it out of gear .. that's the first check i think

just note .. to get a high gearbox mileage .. oil should have been changed every 50,000 miles (ford says never)

all the best.mark

[07peat]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't thought to try our new overlord AI.

I'm not having an issue with the gears jumping out, everything drives fine, but say for example I was coming out of 5th gear into neutral, when I drop into neutral, it stays aligned with the 5th gear slot, rather than springing to the middle. Like I said, only when hot.

I did try the almighty AI, which describes this as a 'textbook MT82 cable failure.'. I will get the van hot and try with the linkage end disconnected tomorrow, if the problem persists, I think that diagnoses it at least.

[metalworker0]

MT82

ummm have i ive gone off on a tangent looking up the wrong box then!

no don't think so

i looked up the gearbox and i'm maybe sure it is a a VMT6

http://www.catcar.info/ford/?lang=en&l= ... A9PTMwNzAz


MT82 is a rear wheel drive gearbox . which i think, will not have cables

mech and cables for VMT6
http://www.catcar.info/ford/?lang=en&l= ... MzA3MDY%3D



all the best.mark

[Radiofence]

Check your gearbox oil level. I drive my 300k plus one up a mountain this summer and it started to do what you describe. I imagine heat making something expand and get tight in the box

[07peat]

Had a proper go at removing the cables at the linkage end today, but no budge, and didn't fancy completely forcing them at risk of breaking.

I'll have to give the oil a check, 21mm below the fill spot when warm is what I understand to be right. Just need to figure out where I can borrow some extra axle stands to get it up.


As a side note, i found a narrow hose disconnected at both ends that i believe to be the gearbox breather tube. Going to get a new one ordered. But I can't find much info on where it connects to. Image below, does the white nozzle look correct? sits on the linkage, and I can't find anywhere else that seems plausible

20251218_161957ppp.jpg

[metalworker0]

i dont know as i dont have that box .. i have similar but its an old 2006 connect. MTX75.. and the breather pipe just ends in a bent small loop under a little cover ... looks electrical on mine at first glance like a capacitor .. but it was a breather cover, at headlamp level near the front .

that may be still there with the pipe dangling from it . its there should you drive through deep water . try look at diagrams in the links i gave you


all the best.mark

[07peat]

Yes forgot about the diagrams, that is the one. Have ordered a replacement part, not that i plan on needing it, but cheap and easy to resolve.

Just the gear cables I'm stuck by now. The mk7's had a lovely button you could press to release and lift, the manual i've found suggests just a trim removal tool, which I couldn't get in behind too well. Seemed like alot of force was going to be needed to get them off... or im missing something

[metalworker0]

i don't know only have the ecoblue custom manual, same gearbox ... gear lever on the dash

says: remove whole bottom of dash and heater controls .. just a pile of coloured pics with what bolts to remove .. no extra text telling you what's going on .. just keeps repeating: make sure its in 4th gear, no do this or do that, more coloured arrows and symbols and bingo .. you've adjusted the gears and it's sadly lacking and leaves you to work out the rest yourself ..
Who ever wrote the manual was clueless .
on the other hand ...... if you want to know everything about the air conditioning .. it goes into great detail - everything is covered. then driveshafts .. again great detail

its like they choose a different employee to write each section of the manual and that section is only as good as the employee or the day he did it , or how in depth he felt like doing it .

or is another one of these sample manuals were stuff has been deliberately left out!
oh and needs special service tool 308-650 - Aligner, Gearshift Lever

all the best.mark

[Radiofence]

You have to pry yours off
If your worried. Boil a kettle and dump some hot water over the snap on fittings to soften the plastic.

From memory, the breather pipe ends shoved onto a plug built onto the fusebox to the left of the expansion chamber

[Radiofence]

Use a small pry bar to make it easier.
You dont need stands, just squeeze under there....unless your very fat, then eat less than you burn and your eventually fit

[andz327]

Mk7's suffer from something similar when the selector rod bush/bearing that the rod goes through in the top of the turret ,
Loose juice until moving freely then spray grease but needs to be sprayed right where the rod comes through while someone keeps moving gear lever...... that's if its the same problem as I've only seen the problem on the mk7 5spd fwd and don't know if 6spd mk7 or customs suffer the problem


Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

[Radiofence]

Its pretty much impossible to spray that shaft as its almost got a tank turret system over it. Ill try and dig out some pics.

Have u done it yet?

[07peat]

No luck yet, I've mostly forgotten about it with Christmas. I'd wondered about the turret but don't fancy going that far in dismantling. I could give a spray a go, but that's likely my last shot before it goes to the garage

[Radiofence]

It