I am having trouble getting my Corsa into reverse gear. What could be wrong?
The mechanic says...
This sort of problem is difficult to diagnose ‘remotely’; for a full assessment really the vehicle needs to be driven. However, if there are problems within the clutch or its operating system, or within the gearbox itself, often reverse gear is the first to show signs of ‘difficulty’ in engagement. Sometimes the situation can be eased temporarily by engaging first gear before trying to engage reverse.
Note that if the trouble is severe and the gearbox emits a crunching or metallic noise when you try and engage reverse gear, eventually the gear teeth will be seriously damaged. In such cases the problem needs to be sorted out as soon as possible.
The oil level in the gearbox should be checked; if the unit is found to be low on lubricant it should be topped up. However, if you are unsure of the vehicle’s previous service history (and whether the gearbox has the correct type/grade of oil in it), the oil should be drained and then the gearbox should be re-filled using fresh lubricant as specified in your Vauxhall’s handbook. If there is no difference, operation of the clutch itself and the operating mechanism should be checked. If all is found to be okay in these respects, this points to an internal problem within the gearbox, which unfortunately will need to be removed and stripped down/examined, or a replacement gearbox installed.
As a first move, it would be worth obtaining the opinion of a competent mechanic, who can actually drive the vehicle. Occasionally it may be found that the problem is actually not related to the gearbox or cutch – for example if the engine is idling at far too high a speed.
