Car slipping out of first gear when idle

[Maccy]

Have noticed this more recently (in the past month or so). When sitting in traffic with the car in gear, just before i move off sometimes the gear slips out just enough so that I get a horrible crunch noise and won't move. It has to be properly slammed into first and held there until the car's moving.

When it was serviced and MOT'd last month, I was told the clutch has another year left in it and a few bearings on the gearbox are going, could this be related or is it a more serious problem?

 

[Duke]

Dodgy clutch? Do you hold the clutch in whilst it is in first, whilst waiting in traffic?

 

[Howard]

Dodgy clutch? Do you hold the clutch in whilst it is in first, whilst waiting in traffic?

That's what he said

It's bad practice IMO, put it in neutral. Although that won't solve this problem. It's probably just a slightly worn gearbox. Try putting it in 2nd before 1st, when you move off

 

[gareth.e]

That's what he said

It's bad practice IMO, put it in neutral. Although that won't solve this problem. It's probably just a slightly worn gearbox. Try putting it in 2nd before 1st, when you move off

I knew this... but why is it so bad?

 

[RedTen]

I always leave it in first and keep the clutch down when waiting.

Does it actually do damage?

 

[Howard]

It puts unnecessary strain on the thrust bearings and other clutch components, makes your foot ache, introduces the danger of your foot slipping and the car jolting into the car infront, and is generally just totally unnecessary if you're sitting there for more than about 5 seconds

 

[*Chris]

the rover i was driving started doing this (slipping out of first and reverse), the gearbox was going

 

[Duke]

That's what he said

I wasn't sure if he actually did that, or just meant that it did it when putting it into gear just before moving off.

 

[Maccy]

I leave it in neutral if I'm sitting at traffic lights, if I'm at a roundabout or waiting to pull out of a road I'll leave it in first (like most people I imagine) because you want to move off fast in some cases!

I think it's more likely to be the gearbox if it's slipping out of gear though surely?

 

[Dogbreath]

Having the clutch pedal pressed down for extended period wears the clutch release bearing and the crankshaft thrust bearings, both expensive parts to replace if a garage does it.

 

[Fothsn]

What do you guys do at lights of traffic that’s on a hill? Put the hand brake on?

 

[deko]

What do you guys do at lights of traffic that’s on a hill? Put the hand brake on?

sit on the brake in neutral, just before it goes to green (its not hard to guess) clutch in, 1st gear and then just pull away normally.

 

[Fothsn]

sit on the brake in neutral, just before it goes to green (its not hard to guess) clutch in, 1st gear and then just pull away normally.

Ah okay do you drive a diesel?

 

[Howard]

What do you guys do at lights of traffic that’s on a hill? Put the hand brake on?

Yeah. Juggling your feet between the brake and acclerator is fine I guess, one day you'll stall though