I have a 1994 214 16v, and the gearbox is really bad, I know that rovers are meant to find it hard to engage reverse, but mine is really bad! Some times it can take up to 5 times to get in gear! When I try to put it in it stops half way between being in gear and being in neutral, if I try to reverse like this, then it slips back to reverse.

Then theres the forward gears, first is often the same as reverse, however only takes two times to engage at the most and often requiures being forced, second is hard to engage when cold, and third is qiute notchy, 4th and 5th are ok. The car has a new clutch.

The gearbox is much worse when cold. Car has done 50000 miles, so not much to need a new gearbox! And the car is never thrashed. Think it needs a new gearbox? How much will new/re-cond box's cost, and also does anyone know of any good places in the midlands? Think my student loan may be needed!

Thanks.

A new one will be around £1200-1500, a re-con should be more like £300-600

Guess I will have to go for a re con, are these ok? Even though I dont want to keep this car long, I think I am going to have to, does it sound to you like my car needs a new gearbox?

Also forgot to mention that sometimes it goes straight into gear from cold, and is sometimes very good, I had thought about changing gear oil.

It depends,if you run the risk of just a second hsnd 1, from a breakers, it wud be even cheaper, but at least with a re-con u get a great condition box, for alot less than a new one.I would never suggest a brandnew box for a car thats(no disrespect meant) worth less than the new gearbox?

HTH Mark

Where did u buy the car as its done 50% less than average mileage?Are u sure it wasnt clocked?The only reason i ask is because unless its been thrashed everyday of its life it should not need a new box by any means yet?

Sorry to hear the situ, i know this sounds obvious but :
1.Have you checked the box oil levels?
2If u have someone recon yours and it turns out to be something crap like a single cog on the lay shaft(as its always 1st and reverse?) it'd be cheaper to just repair/replace a couple of bits on yours than get a recon?

I'm sure that it hasn't been clocked, iv'e had it almost 2 years (had 34k on the clock when I bought it) and it has been checked out by a few mechanics, they have all said how good it is, I dont thrash it at all, hardly ever take it abobe 3500 rpm, especially when cold. I checked the oil about 3 months ago, was full. When I had the clutch done last year they did seem to think that some bolts where missing, ill have to take it into a garage I think. Cheers for your help mate.

Anytime,if u want more info/advice/idea sharing just p.m. me.

Originally posted by rve200
I have a 1994 214 16v, and the gearbox is really bad, I know that rovers are meant to find it hard to engage reverse, but mine is really bad! Some times it can take up to 5 times to get in gear! When I try to put it in it stops half way between being in gear and being in neutral, if I try to reverse like this, then it slips back to reverse.

Then theres the forward gears, first is often the same as reverse, however only takes two times to engage at the most and often requiures being forced, second is hard to engage when cold, and third is qiute notchy, 4th and 5th are ok. The car has a new clutch.

The gearbox is much worse when cold. Car has done 50000 miles, so not much to need a new gearbox! And the car is never thrashed. Think it needs a new gearbox? How much will new/re-cond box's cost, and also does anyone know of any good places in the midlands? Think my student loan may be needed!

Thanks.
Whoa!!!!!!
We may be not talking gearbox here!
This may be as daft a a selectoor pall.

This sounds like a selector problem , not a gearbox prob...
Do not spend the money on a new cog stirrer until this has been checked out!!!!!

I got a recon box last year for £500 notes - takes loads of abuse :lol:

Originally posted by MKandy
I got a recon box last year for £500 notes - takes loads of abuse :lol:

Mate perhaps that is why u needed a replacemet box,i'm not a genius but i dont think a road going rover 1.4 was designed to "take LOADS of abuse" lol


Also transam what is a selector pall and whats a cog stirrer.

It is probably worth changing the oil in your own gearbox first. Not just a top up, but a complete drain and refill.

Whats the capacity for a t16gearbox?i know the answer is "probably not"but i have 1 of those sort of 1/2litre bottles wud that do to drain and refill for MY car?

I dont know the quantity, but I believe you need to use something other than normal gearbox oil for the turbo boxes.

Try this:

Push the clutch in and try to get it into reverse, only use a small amount of pressure on the gear lever. When you feel that the lever won't go any further (still applying light pressure) start slowly letting the pedal up and you should feel it just drop into reverse.

My MR2 can be a real b!t(h to get in reverse but this works every time.

Have the slave cylinder checked! On 420's they are sealed units , but mine was leaking.

£75 quid from a scrapy, i saw him take it off a metro with 14k on the clock! and the metro box on my 200 rocks!! nice and close! but still not very smooth:(