Can't select any gear

[Alan67]

Morning everybody,

After just over a year of ownership, I finally believed my 1993 2.6 (ABC) Saloon was running sweetly following 6 days of smooth running from the V6. Doesn't sound much I know, but it beats the previous 2-3 days, so this is huge for me!

But (there's always a but!), I decided 2 days ago to remove the muck from around the engine and underside of the 5-Speed gearbox. This had apparently accumulated over the past 2-3 years from a slight oil leak, which was noted as an advisory on previous MOT's. I figured it would help me identify exactly where the leak was coming from, although it was suspected to be from around the o/s cam cover area.

So I bought some heavy duty degreaser from Screwfix and set about cleaning everything with a squirty bottle and a stiff brush. I thought I was being careful in my use of the garden hose to wash everything down afterwards. Dried a few things off, and the car started first time and idled smoothly. I let her idle for a bit to evaporate the remaining water, and then reversed the car down off my ramps. Just as the front wheels were leaving the ramps, I was surprised to feel what felt like wheel spin, albeit only for a fraction of a second. I also thought the ramp may have slipped away from the wheel, causing the sensation.
However, when I drove the car forward after putting the ramps away, I got the same issue. My first thought was that I had somehow contaminated the clutch plate while cleaning. It kind of felt like a small clutch judder. I tried moving off and stopping a few times, and eventually got the car to move off smoothly in first and reverse gears, almost as if the clutch plate was clearing up of any contamination. However, I also noted that the gear lever was baulking slghtly on a couple of occasions when trying to select first gear, although it did go in. Got the car up into 3rd and 4th on a short run around the block, and apart from the slight baulking, it all seemed relatively normal again.

Came out to the car the following morning though (yesterday) with the intention of doing an oil/filter change, and the car wouldn't go into gear. Any gear. Clutch pedal felt normal. Fluid seemed normal, (as long as the brake reservoir also feeds the clutch?). Gearlever would move fine along the neutral action, but flatly refused to be moved forward or back into any gear from that point. Tried rolling the car back a little, but this made no difference. I also tried selecting gears with the engine switched off, and I still can't get the gear lever to move into any gear.

Phoned my local garage with the intention of having the car towed to them to see what was going on. He can't take it until Monday unfortunately, but said he would pop up to my house this morning to take a quick look. He did think there was a chance of something jamming the linkage, maybe a stone or something that I had inadvertently washed down with the hose. This sounded plausible to me. I tried to have a look after jacking up the o/s/f, and sticking it on an axle stand, but to be honest, I haven't a clue what I'm looking at. No idea what or where this jamming might be occurring.

Sorry for the long winded explanation, but wanted to explain things as best I could.

Does anybody have any ideas about what might be happening with the gear selection? Can't imagine something major has failed, as it was perfect going up onto the ramps, and then had issues coming off.

Cheers,
Alan