147 Wobbly Gear Stick

[kenigma]

Hiya

First time Alfa owner.

2004 147 5 door 2.0 Twin Spark, manual

The gear stick is quite wobbly when in a gear (any gear). It changes nicely and smoothly enough but wondering whether this is normal for Alfas or this particular model?


Many thanks.

[colcol]

How many kays has your 147 done?, it may be some wear in one of the change bushes, also does it vibrate and rattle?, it may have some adjustment issues, and it is a cable gearchange and the 2 cables are quite long and go to the centre of the engine bay, one cable does left to right and the other one does forward and backwards, compared to some [un-named] Alfa's i think it has quite a nice geachange!, i remember one of the first eastwest cars the Austin 1800, it had cables and they were shockers!, Colin.

[Steve S]

It could have a broken bush or something. Ive seen broken linkages on the gearbox itself. All easy repairs. It could also just be flogged. There are lots of moving parts in the cable system to wear out.

[colcol]

If your 147 has done a lot of kays, then the cables may have stretched and the cable may have too much freeplay, hence the 'wobble' on the gearlever, that is excessive movement in the gearlever until the cable starts to move, a tip is don't hold your hand on the gearlever unless you are actually changing gear as it will put unneccesary wear on the gear change linkages, have a look at another 147 or 156  and compare, Colin.

[kenigma]

Thanks for your comments.

If I leave it unrepaired or don't correct it as suggested, will it do damage in the long run? Or is it OK to leave it as is (with minimal contact when not actually changing gears)?

[colcol]

If it is not causing a problem, don't worry about it, if it still changes gear ok then leave it, if it is rattling then it will drive you bonkers and you may have to get it looked at, unless you are changing gear then you should have your hands on the wheel, as the motor revs it moves forwards and backwards, as the motor is east-west, the gearlever to an extent will move with the motor, if you have your hand on the gearlever then it will put some added strain on the gearlever bushes and linkages, Colin.