Question on Manual Transmission Oil Change

hi we have a 03 mini non s with a manual 5 speed and it has lost 1 3 and 5 gears as in they are not there or can not be found and its not grinding or any thing but still have 2,3 and reverse i've looked at the cables and they are moving is this a fluid issue or somthing else

__________________
This post was auto-generated based upon a question asked on our tech article page here:

[Nick at Pelican Parts]

I would assume a shift fork or lever failed for the trans. Check if you can shift it manually with the cables removed, if not the issue is internal.

- Nick

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Usually problems with multiple gears (but not all) are problems with the shift linkage. You said that the cables are moving, but have you double-checked that the cables are routed correctly, and aren't flopping around? I would also check the connections at both ends of both cables, especially the fore-and-aft cable.

--DD