Berlingo Gearbox jam

[mshep]

I wiish my drive did not have such a slope.

today when starting there was a jam when I moved from P to Rev.

Now even with force it will not go back to P although I can get near enough to activate the ignition.

But this is no good for moving momentarily to D or Rev causes loads of amps to flow but no movement as you would expect.

Releasing the handbrake and apush or pull did not work..........only consolation is that the gearbox looks accessible.

I wonder should i try to get to its innards or call out a gearbox expert next week?

Are there any suggestions please ??............michael sheppard in Milton keynes

[cianof]

Best to go into gear first, then release the hand brake.

When I replace my motor I had a problem with the van not going to P.

I had over tightened the nut that holds the gear changing lever arm in place.

You could try loosening the nut a small bit if u can get access to it. The lever/bolt is on top of the gear box.

[timpootle]

Sounds to me like you have bent or broken the parking pawl cable.

There is a picture of the mechanism here:
http://membres.lycos.fr/cit43/Autoshors ... king_R.jpg
Full index here
http://membres.lycos.fr/cit43/Autoshors ... ectriques/
http://www.batteryvehiclesociety.org.uk ... .php?t=904


I have been told that you can engage the main contactor in Neutral, as well as Park, so if you can find a way to disengage the pawl you may be able to drive it until you can get a new cable.

Good luck!

[ChrisB]

Yep sounds like a parking pawl cable or activator issue

Yep you can start the vehicle in P or N it doesnt matter, trouble is it sounds like the cable or rod has bent/broken and thus not disengaging.

Must admit I dont use P on a hill, just the handbrake for fear of similar happening, then again we dont have many hills here.

ChrisB

[mshep]

I am very grateful for all this help.

I think I can now explain to our local automatic gearbox specialist garage what needs to be done.

My son and I tried to get to the gearbox but having got rid of all the plastic covers we found it difficult to get much further. We have given up for now.

Just to confirm the diagnosis we jacked up the front and found the lifted wheel still locked up solid and setting the motor to drive did nothing other than waste a few watts/amps.

Trouble is the slope is so steep that its not safe or easy to get under, so our next move is to try and manipulate the vehicle inch by inch down the slope so its more ready for whover might collect it soon

The advice about not putting it into park sound sensible..........I am maybe getting a very expensive lesson !

its great that BVS has so many helpful folk on the forum

Michael s

[cianof]

Here's a pic of the the bolt I was talking about.



It holds the "bout de cable" part in place.

If you can reach in the top of the motor and loosen that a small bit, could be worth a try before calling someone out to fix the van. It's on the right (drivers) side of the vehicle. You might have to remove the brake servo vacuum pump to gain access.

If loosening the bolt doesn't work I think you will be looking at removing the motor to complete the repair.
http://berlingoelectriquee500.blogspot.com/2009/01/berlingo-electrique-e500-experience.html

[ChrisB]

I'd say theres a good chance of releasing it BUT you'll need to push the vehicle a few inches back up the hill first or jack it up so that theres no tension on the pawl, then it "should" release using the pic from above.

Once released then you can lower the vehicle down the slope to a more workable position possibley ?

ChrisB

[mshep]

Well, thanks to all the help its back on the road.

By the time the posts of 14th April reached me the van was in the workshop of MK Gearboxes (lacal gearbox specialist)............. a £30 tow got it there.

As everyone predicted they found the cable that operates the pawl broken and ordered a replacement.

The parking pawl disengaged without difficulty they said but they were convinced the vehicle was undrivable. Fortunately, thanks to the pics and diagrams i had from all you helpful folk I was able to convince them to let me have it back while they waited the few days quoted for the part to come in.

So now i have to start in N and I have put on tape to stop me getting anywhere near P..........MK gearbox guy thought that it might jam again otherwise.

Now I have it back there remains a diplomacy problem. The chief mechanic of my emplyer (Age Concern MK) has reservations on the ability of MK gearbox to make a good job of completing the repair.

I have already paid them for the cable so I am thinking of collecting it when itcomes in............ my line of argument being the suggestion that the motor brushes are almost due for changing ..........the 2 jobs could be combined...............in a month or two maybe.

Seems to me a pity that the Citreon disigners did not put a removable access panel in car floor so one could get to the top of the gearbox from above........ it would have made DIY repair much easier.

Anyway thanks again for all the help...............michael s