Hi I have a 2004 Diesel Xsara Picasso with about 150,000 on the clock. So far it has been extremely reliable, maybe partly because it is used mostly on motorway runs rather than around town. Yesterday I set off to return home after visiting friends, coming onto the motorway I found the gearbox wouldn't go into fifth gear. I was able to drive home in fourth OK and first to fourth and reverse all engage absolutely normally. When I try to engage fifth there is a little bit of a whirring noise and the gear lever simply feels like it doesn't want to go there.

Before I drive it anywhere else and also before I ring a garage I was hoping to get some informed opinion on possible cause. Obviously at this milage if it is a problem internal to the gearbox then I would possibly be better off looking for another car.

I'm hoping that it might be a question of adjusting the cables from the gear shift to gear box? In that case would it be likely that just fifth would cause a problem?

If it isn't the cables I read somewhere that the fifth gear is external to the main gearbox and that there is a locking nut that can loosen. Anybody got any info. on this and whether this is a gearbox out situation or an in-situ repair (cost etc.)?

I have a choice of a generally competent local garage or drving the car to the Citroen main dealer near where I work but 40 miles away (who have also done good work for me on occasions). Obviously the main dealer might have more specialised knowledge but I am concerned about driving the car so far if I am unsure what the problem is.

Any advice welcome. Regards Chris U