MC-shift won’t select (R) reverse when cold

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,266
Morning guys,
Has anyone experienced anything similar?
This morning, after a minus 3 degree night, I could not select reverse. I kept getting the message ‘gear not available’ when pressing R. Took 15 minutes of warming up the engine at idle and 15-20 attempts before it finally engaged.
It has happened before a few times, always on cold start up, but never lasted 15 min before.
Any suggestions?
Thanks all.
 

GeoffCapes

Member
Messages
14,000
I maybe wrong (often am) but isn't this a sign that the clutch is about to give up the ghost?
 

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,266
I don’t think so Geoff, it had 75% clutch left only 4000 miles ago. I’m wondering if it could be battery related as it seems to only happen when cold.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,747
Battery, thrust bearing being tight in the cold, lower fluid level due to contraction...or just a bit stiff like an old man first thing (or so I'm told)
 

philw696

Member
Messages
25,114
It wants plugging in to diagnostics and get some live data after making sure the battery and charging system is all okay.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
I had this once on my old car (which has since had a new clutch) - I selected drive and then tried again and it selected reverse perfectly so I thought no more about it and put it down to being Italian.
 

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,266
Just back from AV who plugged it in briefly. No obvious error codes. If it does it again we’ll replace the battery. Was going there anyway to check on 360 progress.
 
Last edited:

azapa

Member
Messages
1,300
mine does that once in a while, or similar ‘gear not available’ thingy, despite being on a new battery and Ctek. Car is always coldish, never seen it on a long drive or the return trip from a jaunt. With advice from members here, I try to disconnect the Ctek the day before the outing, as maybe a slight over voltage was triggering it. Still does it once in a while though.

Sensitive beasts!
 

Wanderer

Member
Messages
5,791
Mine does it when I panic! Overshot the in-ramp for the car park at The Meriden Centre in Leeds, needed to reverse urgently cos of cars behind me trying to get round, flicked to Reverse quickly and got all these warnings - think it brain gets confused in stressful times!
 

ChrisQP09

Member
Messages
2,994
Morning guys,
Has anyone experienced anything similar?
This morning, after a minus 3 degree night, I could not select reverse. I kept getting the message ‘gear not available’ when pressing R. Took 15 minutes of warming up the engine at idle and 15-20 attempts before it finally engaged.
It has happened before a few times, always on cold start up, but never lasted 15 min before.
Any suggestions?
Thanks all.

I can report that I have experienced this once and the cold theory stacks up. Battery may also be a underlaying issue specifically low voltage due to inactivity of use.
 

Bebs

Member
Messages
3,266
I can report that I have experienced this once and the cold theory stacks up. Battery may also be a underlaying issue specifically low voltage due to inactivity of use.
I tend to agree with that. Whenever it’s been sat in my garage on an Optima trickle charger there’s no problem. Because of my current garage renovation it has been sitting on the drive, sometimes on a trickle charger and on those occasion, again no problem. It would appear that minus degrees and a ‘well used battery’ may be the cause. In any case it’s worth me changing the battery at least as I have no idea when it was last changed. Car will be back in a heated garage after that so that should prevent any issues too.
Thanks for all your comments chaps!
 

Sam McGoo

Member
Messages
1,745
I've never had the 'gear unavailable' message, gearbox related warning or problems with reverse, but a couple of times in freezing conditions, in the first few minutes of driving, it has dropped from 3rd to neutral when changing down.
Both times it was well under 0degC and within half a mile of my house. They obviously don't like the cold too much. lol
 

cable40d

New Member
Messages
3
It happens to my car everyday, no problem when I drive forward, and if I need reverse just wait for 8-10 mins. Hope someone(mechanic) can share the reason.
 

Scaf

Member
Messages
6,512
It happens to my car everyday, no problem when I drive forward, and if I need reverse just wait for 8-10 mins. Hope someone(mechanic) can share the reason.
Rather than wait, try selecting 1 and then R see if that works.
 

cable40d

New Member
Messages
3
wow thank u for yr prompt reply. It works at the first week with PARK OFF light. Then, it need to waiti until the temperature meter goes to half-way. It really annoying when u need it in hurry.
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
Unfortunately, it could actuator related. They can be problematic in this way when worn. I have heard of this a few times.