Getting stuck in neutral

[scruff]

I’ve got a 6 month old (4k mileage) DS3 1.6 HDi. Lovely car...but.....occasionally when you change down from 5th gear, the gear lever gets stuck in neutral on the right hand side. You have to wobble the gearstick quite aggressively to release it. In normal driving, it probably occurs once or twice a day, and it’s always a surprise it’s doing it and of course quite a distraction when you’re coming up to a corner/junction/hazard/etc... You can make it do it every time if you put any slight (and I mean slight) lateral pressure on the stick as you exit 5th gear.

Its been back to the garage loads of times, all of the technicians say "ohh...no, it shouldn’t do that", but now Citroen have said its "a characteristic" and I should put up with it.

My question is, has anyone with the same gearbox/engine combo as mine have any experience with this? Does it happen on yours? Have you managed to do anything about it?

Thanks for reading...

Ian

[Yellow]

Mate I have learners in my car and this has never happened to them or me! Take it back, theyre just fobbing you off. Dont forget to mention the club where you have canvased over 800 members none of which has this problem (hopefully) They can't argue with that

[scruff]

have you got the 1.6 diesel? apparently its that specific engine with that specific gearbox design that has problems. It does seem crazy they wont fix it! thanks for the reply and the support - feels like citroen and the garage have dug their heals in and are now saying " see you in court"...grrrrr

[Yellow]

Yes I have the 1.6 diesel and so far done 12500 trouble free miles. The only time it gets in neutral is when the learners miss a gear :0) If Biggy hasn't got a note from citroen then they are talking b!&%$^cks to you.

[Bigfeet]

Just to be 'devils advocate' when you are pulling down from 5th you are pulling the stick gently to the left as I'm wondering if you are pulling back to hard and jamming the gear into the top of reverse which would cause the problem you described.

Otherwise get someone else to drive the car with you and see if they have the same problem, if so video the incident and go back to your dealer and have one of the tech go out with you so you can show them what happens. If they won't then show them the video and hopefully they can sort out your issue.

[Yellow]

Told you he was a nice man, and quick

[scruff]

Hi BigFeet...Im pulling back normally on the gearstick. However, you can get it to "fail" everytime if you apply any slight (and I mean slight) right hand pressure. The service manager drove the car and even though he tried desperatly to not let it fail, it did. Then the manager of the shop drove it (after "the fix") and he was even more careful not to let it get stuck, and it did....what do you think?

[Bigfeet]

Theres a device thats on the gearbox to stoop you going into reverse from 5th, my thoughts is thats where the problem lies or there maybe a problem with the gear rods. Either way your dealer needs to get onto the case and get your problem sorted.

[Bigfeet]

Had a quick chat with our CT and he reckons that there may be damage to the release bolt on 5th in the gearbox - he has seen this happen once before on a C3 and said in that case the gearbox need working on.

[Rickzayne]

I have this every do often.. But I think I had it on my mini
I as well but I just ignore it xD

[Kaibabes]

I am having problems with being stuck in 5th... not great when your on a dual carriage way and slowing down at a roundabout.. and your stuck in 5th!!! 3 times its happened this evening... I have the Hdi 90 not happy.. is being stuck in 5th anyone elses problem?

[SiM22]

I am having problems with being stuck in 5th... not great when your on a dual carriage way and slowing down at a roundabout.. and your stuck in 5th!!! 3 times its happened this evening... I have the Hdi 90 not happy.. is being stuck in 5th anyone elses problem?

I was given the 90 as a courtesy car yesterday and have to say this happened to me. It's like 5th gear is glued in. Found out it happens when you pull the gear stick to the left when trying to get out of 5th gear. If you push it to the right it comes out of gear without any issues

[Kaibabes]

I was given the 90 as a courtesy car yesterday and have to say this happened to me. It's like 5th gear is glued in. Food out it happens when you pull the gear stick to the left when trying to get out of 5th gear. If you push it to the right it comes out of gear without any issues

Thanks.. will try and do this.. had the car 6 weeks done 1800 miles and only today its doing it.. odd... its not happening all the time.. but 3 times one after the other as I was travelling up 1 set of dual carriageway this evening..

[AndyG]

Not has issues with mine, thankfully the gearbox device kicked in as i tryed to find a 6th gear that isnt there. Although i pull gently straight down on lever from 5 to 4 andhave no issues

[Rickzayne]

I am having problems with being stuck in 5th... not great when your on a dual carriage way and slowing down at a roundabout.. and your stuck in 5th!!! 3 times its happened this evening... I have the Hdi 90 not happy.. is being stuck in 5th anyone elses problem?

Same here, Only does it when im slowing down and wantign to down gear.