Troubleshooting problems with starting transmission on Priora: causes and effective solutions

Transmission malfunction cannot be called a typical Lada Priora problem. This is not a typical malfunction, which, nevertheless, can occur.


Most often, Prior car owners are faced with the problem of shifting gears. Below we will consider what the reason may be and how to repair the box with your own hands.

Common problems

The main reasons lie in the natural wear and tear of elements and parts. A malfunction in the operation of the gearbox may be indicated by the appearance of a crunching sound when the clutch is released and the gear is engaged.

Reasons that may indicate problems:

✅ malfunction of the transmission control drive rod
✅ errors made when adjusting the speed drive
✅ loosening the fastening screws on the gear selector rod lever
✅ breakage or wear of plastic elements located on the gearbox control drive
✅ worn out or broken clutch fork
✅ incorrect adjustment of the scenes

When the first or second speeds are difficult to engage, the reason may be that the clutch is not fully disengaged. On Ladas, the problem is usually a frayed or disconnected pedal cable. Most likely, the cable needs to be replaced if you push the pedal to the floor and it does not rise.

Проблема может состоять в ошибках, которые были допущены при настройке кулисы. Она используется для подключения КПП к рычагу в салоне. Чем больше пробег у car, тем быстрее изнашиваются пластиковые втулки на кулисе.


Failure of synchronizers also leads to problems with the operation of the box. These parts are made of brass, which is a soft metal that gets tired over time. When the synchronizers wear out, gear shifting is accompanied by a grinding noise or a crunching sound that is uncharacteristic of normal gearbox operation. If the speeds switch normally, but extraneous sounds are still present, this is the first sign of a problem.

The malfunction may consist of bearing failure as a result of wear or breakage. These parts deteriorate over time, causing one of the shafts to stop rotating. The pulley itself does not fail due to high loads, but may break due to a manufacturing defect. Such a malfunction leads to breakdown of the entire box.

In some cases, difficulties with switching gears may be due to problems with the clutch basket. The device may not work correctly due to wear or breakage of the petals or “spider”. The latter is fixed on special guy wires. Over time, they wear out and break, causing problems.


Sometimes the reason is related to the Priora engine mounts. The engine hangs on them and is connected to the gearbox. On cars with high mileage, the mount breaks over time or gets twisted out of its seat. As a result, the power unit sags, which can lead to damage to the linkage.

How to change the gearshift lever axle bushing yourself

All repairs are carried out after dismantling the unit. To complete the task, you need to remove the tunnel lining from the floor of the car. Using a 13mm wrench, unscrew the nut that secures the gearbox lever axis. Remove the bolt securing the axle support. Then the lever can be moved to the side and removed along with the assembly.

So you can see the plastic ones and one spacer bushing. If these components break down, they are replaced. It must be taken into account that the plastic elements have a split design so as not to confuse the cut with damage. Installation of all parts is carried out in reverse order. Before this, the bushings are lubricated with Litol.

How to change the clutch cable yourself

One end of it is connected to the pedal, the other to the shutdown plug. Open the hood to reveal it. The cable is replaced when the pedal becomes stuck. To complete the task you will need to remove the air filter. Disconnect the engine control system wire connector from the mass air flow sensor.

Loosen the clamp, remove the air supply hose to the throttle from the sensor branch pipe. Remove the air intake sleeve. The body is equipped with rubber supports. If you have new ones, then for faster removal on old ones you can cut off the cap flush with the metal surface. Before installing the support, treat it with WD-40.


Then, under the hood, grab the cable, pull it forward and remove the leash from the groove of the fork lever. Using a 17mm wrench or socket, unscrew the nut securing the front end of the cable sheath to the gearbox bracket by 3-4 turns. In this case, the shell should be held by the hexagon with the same key.

Remove the end of the cable sheath from the bracket. Then move into the interior and, using a size 8 wrench, unscrew the nut under the dashboard that secures the shell bracket to the pedal. Further steps to dismantle the housing of the cable length adjustment mechanism are carried out in a hard-to-reach place. To make the task easier, pull the pedal slightly towards you.

Using a screwdriver, pry up the retaining clip on the pedal pin. Remove it, and then remove the eye of the cable length adjustment mechanism housing. Next, remove the sealing cover from the hole in the dashboard in the passenger compartment. After this, the cable can be taken into the cabin.

Unscrew and remove the driver from the threaded end. Before installing a new cable, check the condition of the plastic bushing on the pedal pin. It is better to replace the old bushing; usually this part wears out with the cable. Apply grease to it and the finger itself.

To install, the cable must be threaded through the hole in the shield from the passenger compartment into the engine compartment. Then you need to insert a sealing cover there, which will protect the part from rapid wear. Place the housing of the automatic cable length adjustment mechanism onto the so-called pin and secure it. Now you can secure the shell itself.


Screw the plastic leader onto the threaded end. In this case, its end part should be flush with the end of the leash. The latter must be inserted into the groove of the clutch release fork lever.

When the cable is installed, the drive is adjusted. To do this, pull it by the tip until it stops; you need to overcome some spring force. Fix the cable in this position, hold it and use a ruler or caliper to measure the distance from the end of the plastic leash to the fork lever. Ideally it should be 25-27 mm.

To adjust the distance, the leash rotates clockwise or counterclockwise. When you remove the load and release the cable, the leash will adhere to the fork lever without play. Now depress the clutch pedal several times to activate the automatic length adjustment mechanism. You can check the full stroke, ideally it should be no more than 146 mm.

As you can see, repairing a gearbox on a Priora and replacing the clutch cable is not an easy task. But if you want to get rid of problems with switching speeds, you can do it yourself. The main thing is to strictly adhere to the algorithm. And one more thing: for repairs and restoration, it is better not to use cheap spare parts.