[paulmanchester]

Nightmare.
Just fitted poly bushes on the rear anti roll.
Took her out for a spin (and to pick up curry!)
Locked into 2nd gear. Got it out(just)....very difficult to get into any gear (occasionally normal gearchange, but 90% of time difficult).
Feels almost like when my little rubber block went (the one on the linkage arm-that was difficult to get into 1st 2nd. This is all gears, and I checked best I could the rubber block). Also a LOT of play in gearstick when in gear (as in moves around almost like when it is in neutral).
Is this the clutch?
Linkage?
Help!!!

Help!
I cant afford a new clutch job.........

 

[paulmanchester]

Forgot to mention it had a gearbox rbuild 6k miles ago (with new master cylinder......)

 

[mark e]

My money is on the linkage, Paul, especially given the amount of play you're describing. It's a ripoff at about £40 though.

 

[saabz2000]

Euro Car parts do what they call a gear lever joint .... P/N 650880030
I think this might be what your after. Their descriptions are a bit naff, so check first

 

[saabz2000]

and its only 11 quid

 

[paulmanchester]

Is it a case of getting the car up on axle stands and looking? Will it appear obvious?
My thoughts are linkage....but having no experience of 'dead' clutches...I was worried it could be that.
Just put the car into the garage...and could not select reverse at all...massive crunching...couldnt force it in (not that I tried!)....had to move forward a foot before i could select it.
Again does this sound like linkage.
I have an old 2.3i (1989 vintage) would this have the same gear linkage?
Is it a simple job....back at work on Monday (30 miles each way....need me motor!)

 

[billj]

Paul, since the rubber coupler was replaced recently, and the gearbox too, perhaps the pinch-bolt connecting the coupler to the shaft has worked loose?

 

[paulmanchester]

Is that the coupler next to the rubber block (towards the inside of the car?)
#i'm just about to get it on stands now.....will have a look.........

 

[wrighar]

I can't see why it would be sloppy from inside the box, and at worse it would be on a fore & aft pair of gears.

Definatlty sounds like the coupler is loose on the shaft.

You can just get a loooong socket on the nut from above the engine if you stand by the osf wheel.

Select reverse, and push the gear fullt home, select the lockup hole on the gearbox, make sure reverse is selected on the shift lever and pinch up the bolt.

Andrew

 

[Border Raider DK]

Hi Scaero

If I remember rightly (?)Haynes says something about different ways of adjustment according to Model Year.
Paulmanchester's profile states "'92 cs carlsson, '89 9k 2.3i "
Don't know if this is relevant ( or if Haynes is right )

Good luck Paul

 

[wrighar]

If it's a 93 or earlier, then the locating hole is on the shift lever and not on the box, but you have to select reverse gear fully, slacken the joint, select reverse on the lever (using a 3/16 drill bit or suitable screwdriver to hold the position), and tighten the joint.

Andrew

 

[Border Raider DK]

Cheers Andrew

I'll be trying your advice myself later today. ('87 2,0T box in 2,3CD N.A. )

What is it they say? Changing should be "crisp not crunchy"

David

 

[paulmanchester]

I tried the lining up route....I selected reverse...and put a 4mm allan key into the alignment hole....it all lines up ok....
The rubber block is definately ok...I had it off and checked (cuts and burns to prove it-dont try that when the engine is warm!).
Even though it all lines up....could it still be out of alignment?
I will go slacken the bolt off...and re tighten with it locked into reverse.
Could a slave cylinder cause this?

 

[wrighar]

getting into and out of gear could be the slave (or master), but not the waggling.

It might be an idea to get a willing helper.

You lay under the car an watch the linkage,, they change gear and waggle like mad (engine off of course!)

Andrew

 

[billj]

Paul, when you're following Andrew's suggestion, see whether the joint moves at all when your assistant is just taking up all free play. If not, the play must be at the gear lever. When Abbott had my gearbox out recently, they didn't align the linkage properly and I had to do it myself. Then I found out why they had trouble - there was a lot of play between the lever and the selector shaft and I had trouble aligning it too. And my gearbox is the later type that is probably easier to align accurately than yours. New bushes at the bottom of the lever made things a lot better.

Might be worth spending some time aligning it again carefully.

 

[paulmanchester]

I'm pretty sure its a mixture of slave and clutch. Possibly both. Lucky me.
Reasons:
1.)slightly stick clutch pedal (master replaced 6k ago)
2.)looks like a bit of fluid has seeped out of the slave (its made the gearbox casing slightly wet where the plastic insert goes)
3.)noise when in gear(but clutch pedal depressed, with engine running)
4.)locking in gear doesnt sound like linkage to me.
5.)the gear stick waggling....seems to be moving the coupler ok...evrytrhing is tight and aligned(sp?)
6.)its a saab 9000
7.)its a full turbo.

I reckon slave.....if it is that I will get the clutch done as well.
£350 over the phone for a very rough(top end nightmare job)quote on new clutch etc. This also includes the use of loan car for over week (theyu cant do work until a week on monday...but i can drop car off this monday.)
Its a Saab specialist.

 

[zeke]

I'm not certain about '89, but on the later
models, like yours Bill, the adjustment should
be done in 4th. There's a locking dowel that
can be inserted in both the gear lever housing
and the plug hole on the top of the transaxle
(right above where the selector shaft goes
into the transaxle). I responded to Pauls' post
on TSN, but I discounted the clutch. After
seeing his post here, I'm not so sure - if he's
seeing seepage of hydraulic fluid from the
slave, it will give those symptoms: hard
shifting into any gear.

 

[wrighar]

there was a lot of play between the lever and the selector shaft and I had trouble aligning it too. And my gearbox is the later type that is probably easier to align accurately than yours. New bushes at the bottom of the lever made things a lot better.[/b]

Which i ordered for 2 of mine last week, and they should be in this week.

Andrew

 

[billj]

Originally posted by Scaero owner:
[qb] QUOTE

there was a lot of play between the lever and the selector shaft and I had trouble aligning it too. And my gearbox is the later type that is probably easier to align accurately than yours. New bushes at the bottom of the lever made things a lot better.[/b]

Which i ordered for 2 of mine last week, and they should be in this week.[/qb][/b][/quote]Prompted, I assume, by having driven a car with new gearlever bushes?

 

[billj]

Originally posted by robert lavergne:
[qb]I'm not certain about '89, but on the later
models, like yours Bill, the adjustment should
be done in 4th.[/qb][/b]

Indeed. That's how I did mine. The locking dowel should make the adjustment more accurate, although in my case it was still quite difficult to get right due to the play in the gearlever bushes. The new bushes have made the car feel 100K miles newer.