As well as the crap day on an earlier thread on here, on the way back from Lydden today the gears on my Volvo S40 went wrong. I now have to lift the gear stick into the reverse position to get first & second and susquently have no reverse, any ideas? Barry

sounds like the same problem my bro had, check the selector cables, when my bros went wrong the cable had slipped where it joint the box in the adjuster so it effectively had to go further over than it should

i have not experienced this or know anyone that has. My thoughts are the selector. Gearboxs cant just note their selecting around no matter how broken! Must be the selection cables if it has them.
Just my 2p worth!

Doesn't the V40 use a Renault engine and box? if so have a look at the bush where the linkage attaches to the transmission and the base of the gear lever.

Thanks guys for the input.