Renault Espace 94 difficulty selecting/engaging gears?

I recently bought this car with a new clutch fitted. Initially reverse was difficult to engage. I took the car back and was told with this age and milage it was to expected. I think he saw me comming. 3 months on and I now have to turn the engine off in order to select reverse without crunching into gear. Now first and second gear are difficult to engage. I find it easier to select these gears whilst the car is moving slightly. Is this a common problem with this type of car? Can anyone please tell me if it is the gearbox or clutch which is at fault so I can get it repaired?

Answers:
Does it have synchromesh on reverse, some Saabs of this age don't so you need to be stationary before selecting reverse, or double de-clutch. It might be the gear linkage is on the way out, or got messed up when the clutch was changed, this is a cheap replacement, it may also be worth changing the gearbox oil, if the unit isn't sealed. As you say it could be the gearbox, which won;t be cheap = (
if it goes into gear easily when the engine is NOT running the clutch is suspect
the clutch on these are a night mare have u tried adjusting cablr open bonnet and down left side of engine just above near back of exhaust manifold the clutch cable adjust ment screw is located watch if the engine has been run you dont burn yourself . adjust the slack on the cable if not the pin in the pedal asembly it self slips out on some
there are 3 things whitch can course this
1. lack off gear oil
2. clutch is not disengaging properly (lack off adjustment or nackered).
3. gear box is faulty!
i would go to an indepedand garage and have it cheacked befor taking it back & screeming at the pra t how sold it to you
a good way of testing the clucth is to start the engine engaged a hight gear preferably fith then with moderate revs and the hand brake fully aplyied try to pull away if the engine dies then it tells you you have a fairly good clutch plate as drive is being trasfered through it to the gearbox then the road wheels (what are held by the hand brake hence stalling the car try looking at adjusting the cable in a tightening mannor however if you can rev the car and mantain revs then the clutch plate is prob worn and you should be looking at replacing the clucth plate pressure plate and bearing at the same time .
maynot be clutch, common problem on the espace, does the car have a genuine clutch cable? if not i would replace with a new genuine one instead of a quinton hazel, they only last 6 months, i have seen many espaces with this prob and the majority of times i have fixed them by putting the genuine part on (£46) check 2 see if there is any adjustment left on the cable first!

mechanic 20 years done loads of them

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