Technical Another Bravo with failing gearbox bearings

Currently reading:
Technical Another Bravo with failing gearbox bearings

With what approach? I wasn't divulging any form of approach, merely stating that people should exercise their rights. What approach they chose is up to them.
 
Last edited:
With what approach? I wasn't divulging any form of approach, merely stating that people should exercise their rights. What approach they chose is up to them.

The 'rights' won't work though, unless you are prepared to go legal, small claims court or watchdog... People bang on about 'rights' all the time but it's a cruel world and you got to fight for your rights.

So, as I suggested, best get a warranty if you want to avoid big bills (y)
 
I guess it depends on how clued up you are and whether it was worth it or not. For example I was looking at a used Porsche Boxster and then found out that the REM could go leaving a £10,000 bill for a new engine. I can assure you I would take them all the way for a new engine on a 4 year old car and then claim expenses.

The cost of going through the small claims court could be a lot less than many issues found on cars these days.
 
I guess it depends on how clued up you are and whether it was worth it or not. For example I was looking at a used Porsche Boxster and then found out that the REM could go leaving a £10,000 bill for a new engine. I can assure you I would take them all the way for a new engine on a 4 year old car and then claim expenses.

The cost of going through the small claims court could be a lot less than many issues found on cars these days.

Small claims court here is totally free. All paid by the state, including lawyers. So.. if you have any problem, go to the court and tell your story to the judge. "Sir, my fiat gearbox failed. My car is new and I want a new one". After that, go home and wait! After a few months you have your gearbox for free. Or, if you can´t wait, pay for it and at the end, fiat pay you back. :)
 
Bumping an old thread. Has anyone else experienced a whining noise in 5th and 6th gears? I've noticed mine (a '58 150 T-Jet Sport) is doing it. It's very faint but definitely there. I bought it from a dealer 3 weeks ago, I have a year warranty with them.
 
Bumping an old thread. Has anyone else experienced a whining noise in 5th and 6th gears? I've noticed mine (a '58 150 T-Jet Sport) is doing it. It's very faint but definitely there. I bought it from a dealer 3 weeks ago, I have a year warranty with them.

When our bearings started to go, it was a raspy whine in 5th and 6th - you could hear it best with light throttle and at a sensible speed for those gears (i.e. not 10mph).
It lasted for months like that, so it never progressed to anything louder (took Fiat about half a year to source a recon gearbox, so we were left to drive it as-is until then :rolleyes:).
DEFINITELY take it back to the dealer, you don't want to try and sort that kind of problem with no warranty.
 
Yes, that sounds like mine. It is very faint, at first I thought it might be induction noise but its not there in the first four gears. Fiat fitted a secondhand gearbox?
 
Recon box - yeah, it's part of the warranty agreement apparently (it's the wife's car so this is second hand info :D).
Something to do with there being no guarantee of a new gearbox at the time of the failure (i.e. they may have updated it for new cars and it's not backwards compatible), so they only offer reconditioned units.

Bloody glad the recon unit did work actually, as by the time they'd got one and fitted it, the warranty had expired so if it didn't work, things would've got interesting. Fortunately it's been totally fine (bar them not plugging the radiator fan in (which could've been disastrous if I hadn't caught it)). Still, lack of faith in the box is the main reason I've just sold the car, as I can't have a repeat out of warranty :eek:

The dealer did strip the gearbox in a morning and had the bearings out for inspection, so presumably they can just be repaired quite cheaply, but they were very hesitant to do that under the warranty - presumably as a recon box from Fiat would be a better guarantee of a fix.
 
Yes, I'm hoping it'll get sorted under the warranty but after that what do I do? It's only done 35k miles, in three or four years time it could need another gearbox, that's ridiculous. The clutch lasts longer than the gearbox!:eek:
 
Suppose you could run it with the new box and if that ever starts to whine, then part-ex it immediately. Then just hope the next owner notices it fast and gets it done under the new warranty... (although by that time you'll probably be able to get one off a scrapper for not so much money).
 
Been to the dealer this morning and they've said it's too faint to pinpoint where it's coming from and can I drive it until it becomes more apparent. How long has it taken for it to get noticeably louder?
 
Hmm. It seemed to instantly appear on one long journey and then didn't seem to get noticeably louder over a few thousand miles of subsequent travelling (probably did, but it was gradual).
I take it you've got a while left on the warranty (and they won't cause it to expire by making you wait)?

Quite how they can't see it's the gearbox, I don't understand. In 5th and 6th it whines, it doesn't in 4th, it doesn't in neutral. I took ours to the garage, said the gearbox bearings were making a noise, told them to drive it around 50 in 5th and 6th, they did and agreed with me, no problems at all. If you can hear it in the cabin, through all the sound deadening, it's got to be quite noisy in the engine bay - maybe you need to strap a mechanic to the top of the engine and go for a drive... Fiat garages must be aware that it's not an isolated problem.
 
It is very faint, I suppose my ears have become tuned to it. The first mechanic couldn't hear it but his mate could. They said it needs to be obvious what it is for the warranty to pay out (ie a very noisy bearing or damaged gear). I have 11 months left on the warranty, I only bought it three weeks ago.
 
I'm starting to argue with FIAT as my 08 plate t-jet 150 Bravo has developed a gearbox problem (bearings I'm told) that'll cost me £900 to correct. FIAT have said (even thou it has just 19000 miles) it is too old and anything that goes wrong will be my fault!
 
Obviously this will depend on your location but on the Isle of Sheppey (Kent) there's apparently a place that specialises in M32 gearboxes and rebuilds with new bearings for £399.
 
Mine had to be replaced (at my cost) November 2014 - my car is 6 years old but has just 20,000 miles and has been fully serviced regularly. The garage that did it said it is common on Bravos - cost me £900 :-(
 
Back
Top