Firstly I know this is the ST site but I couldn't find the Fiesta LX site but we all related anyhow

Does anybody have the same problem with there Fiesta?
Mine is an LX model, 1.4cc 2002 with 22k on the clock.

Recently purchased, when selecting reverse gear *crunch* and that is with the clutch pedal fully depressed.
It doesn't always happen but according to a local Ford franchise mechanic it is common fault. Hmmmm, I don't think so.

He owned a Fiesta and his did the same, apparently.

The Ford mechanic showed me a brand new Fiesta and told me to sit in the seat with the engine running and selected reverse gear...ermmmm, it didn't crunch and I am not quite sure what he was trying to show me 'cos no new car is going to have this problem.
I don't have this problem when selecting other gears.

Please help

Firstly, welcome to the site .

LX, Freestyle, zetec, whatever car, you are welcome here ..... But if you do like the , great to hear from you .

Now about your question.

It has been asked quite a lot and i think your Ford franchise mechanic is correct. It may be a common fault throughout the fiesta range.

If you search the forum for this you will find lots on this subject. My st is 6 months old and has crunched from new. What i find helps is that
1/ Don't put it in reverse after starting until the revs go right down, or,
2/ Put it in reverse before starting....foot on clutch of course.

Have a look around and you'll see what i mean.

mine crunches too. i think its a common problem with all fiestas

and hello!

Mine is brand new and also crunches, but only a little so it doesn't really bother me - my Ka also did it.

There's no synchromesh for reverse gear so it'll always crunch.

Ive now had 3 fords and each one of those has crunched in reverse. My first car was a KA and that used to crunch going into first gear as well as reverse (nothing to do with my driving.....) It's just one of those annoying little things that make the Fords that we all know and love

If you actually read the manual it states that to select reverse gear you should depress the clutch for 3 seconds prior to selecting.

I just find that as long as i ensure that the car is still and the revs have dropped and stable it slots straight in no bother, I have only crunched reverse once, and it was when I was still creeping forward.

I crunched 3rd to 4th the other day, but that was my bad and a different story!

Yeay totally agree just let the revs drop first, Welcome to the site too !!

Apart from the reverse gear crunch, I think the ST's gearbox is a gooden.

out of interest whats synchromesh?

have a look at this http://www.singster.co.uk/mascot%20mar-apr%202003%20(4).html

Another great site is howstuffworks.com

But in short, before syncromesh gear boxes were used, the driver had to "double clutch". The first depression would enable the driver to take it out of gear, then the driver would have to set the revs accurately, depress the clutch again and engage the new gear. If the revs were set wrong the cogs would be spinning at different rates and you'll get a nasty crunch. The syncro-mesh helps bring the cogs of the different gears to the same speed so that the gear can be engaged nice and smoothly.

When starting the car up I put it in to 1st gear then into reverse, it stops the crunching usually!!

I always start the car in reverse with the clutch depressed.
I find that helps.