I got a gear box mate!!
On a 1.4 16v but should be ok i think.

If yours is knacked let me know and we could sort summin.

In answer to the question the selector rod may have worn and not allow you to get in second. get a new(er) box and put that on.
Difficulty getting in to 1st and 5th sounds like the linkage isn't adjust properly. get the haynes out and reset it. see what you get.
Hope that helps
You may use 1st because you are going very slowly on a switch back and are out of the torqe band of the engine in 2nd.
I have done this but my 1st goes up to 40mph.

id prefer 15 in third insted of 1st

well if i aint got second gear i need to use first earlier than usual cos 15mph is too slow for third

Why would you want 1'st at 15mph? Why would anyone want first other than to pull-off? I think they are designed to not go in unless at slow speed/standstill so you dont blow the bollox out the gearbox, as my brand-new corsa is like that and pretty much every car ive ever driven... :boggle:

no probs mate my car used to hate first, mines never used to go in unless it was below 10mph but i cant get it in at about 15mph

As you probably all know i changed my engine about a month ago as it decided to chew my big ends at 130,000miles we never changed the gearbox but lately the bloody thing wont go into second gear every other ones fine just second there was no crunching it just stopped going in!!! :mad:

Any i deas what i should do? do i change the box or is it just something stupid, checked all the mounts on the gearbox and engine, and checked all the bolts for the box(the reason i lost first and second on the way home from crail) but everything seems ok :o :boggle: :rolleyes: