Disco 2 Can't select gear (4th) at speed

I'll say one thing with Discovery's, they don't give you all of their problems at once. They let you fix one and then move onto the next!
This morning I've suddenly found that I cannot select 4th on my Disco II (manual) when moving at speed such as 'A' roads and motorways or accelerating.
The gear position is still there, but it just feels spongy and does not make a grating noise when trying to change either up or down. Once stopped at lights or pulling away (with lower revs) I can then select it again.
I've had problems with this gear in the past regarding sychromesh and have been double-clutching for a while now, which as a former truck driver isn't an issue for me, with the intention of getting it looked at once the steady stream of faults has been cleared.
It seems this one had joued the queue without telling me! I know this will mean a trip to the garage most likely, but it would be good to knowe the kind of job I may be looking at.

Hi, I think you may have to investigate from the top of the box by removing the gear lever and takeing a look at the plastic "ball" under lever. You'll also be able to chech for damage to the bias plate at the same time.
Have a look here for parts etc http://www.allbrit.de/UNI.cfm?PAGE=817378&SPRACHE=EN
HTH,
Griff

Cheers,
I was suspecting the bias plate as it seemed to affect other gears on the way home. Best get it sorted by the end of the week as I'm off to Kendal Callign in it next week!

Bias plate, springs and railko bush replacement would be a good start. Easy job (as long as you have a pop riveter) and the parts are cheap.

It's probably also worth getting the gear lever rubber gaiter that fits on the top of the transmission (FTC5252 + cable tie UYD100000) and the one that sits on the tunnel (AWR5526) as these are usually shot.

Well, it needs a new g\box, the synchromesh is shot
Reconditioned one + clutch + lab just over £1200. I'd shop around or try Ashcrofts same day service but I'm off on holiday in it next Thursday and I'm not even sure it could have made it to Luton.
The most annoying thing is the Disco is in amazing condition for it's age (2001 ES) and even the local specialist I use says it's weird just how many things have gone wrong with it when it all looks so good.
I'll add this to the list of 'This should be the last thing that needs doing!'.
Until the next thing.

Not good. To be honest I'd be wary of Ashcrofts. When the clutch/flywheel etc needed doing on my last Td5 I opted to go for a recon box because there was only a few hundred quid difference over just having the clutch done. With hindsight it was a mistake. The car was never the same again (part of the reason for selling it) and had to go back 3 times before it was satisfactory.

Given the age and milage (130k) I did expect some things to go wrong due to wear and tear/age but sometime I just have to wonder whether Land Rover designed the Disco 2 to self destruct after 13 years!

If LR had designed it to go wrong after 13 years then it would have gone wrong after 8. Or 15, or 11.....

Mike Jones said:

Not good. To be honest I'd be wary of Ashcrofts. When the clutch/flywheel etc needed doing on my last Td5 I opted to go for a recon box because there was only a few hundred quid difference over just having the clutch done. With hindsight it was a mistake. The car was never the same again (part of the reason for selling it) and had to go back 3 times before it was satisfactory.

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+1 Mines been back twice. Going back again when I'm back. Why they can't sort simple leaks in the t.box and the g.box is beyond me! Selection still notch too. And id avoid one of there fitting agents!
OP How did you find out the syncro had gone? Crunchy downshifts?

markomate2 said:

+1 Mines been back twice. Going back again when I'm back. Why they can't sort simple leaks in the t.box and the g.box is beyond me! Selection still notch too. And id avoid one of there fitting agents!
OP How did you find out the syncro had gone? Crunchy downshifts?

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It had been crunchy for a while in 4th and I'd been double clutching to mitigate this.
Once I couldn't get it in 4th when moving I got it into a local garge I know that specialises. It's only a two man shop, but they know what they are doing with no bullsh*t or rushwork due to backlog.