My Fiat Bravo, Dynamic Evo1, 1.4 T-Jet 120HP is having some difficulties engaging 2nd, 3rd and 5th gear. It's worst when the transmission is cold, but the gear changes improves after the first 10-15 km.

I have now changed the transmission oil to SELENIA TUTELA MATRIX (Synthetic-based SAE 75W-85, API GL 4), but this has not lead to any improvements.

I have seen that Mobil1 and Castrol recommends 75W-90 (full synthetic, 1.9 ltr), but Selenia is recommending something else.

Can any of you specialists tell me what kind of Transmission Oil (and oil specifications) is recommended for this model?

Thank you in advance.

I don't think changing the oil will do anything in regard to the cold, all the T-jet gearbox's does this when they are cold, there is nothing wrong with them just they stiffen in the cold.

Has your car had any modifications done to it to increase performance/bhp?

also worth checking the cables and clutch

I took the car to the local Fiat Car Repair Shop a few weeks ago, and had the gearbox checked out by their own Fiat Specialist. His assumed that the synchromesh rings were worn down.

The gearbox was repaired by the same Car Repair Shop approximately a year ago, where they decided to adjust the sim-rings according to the factory specifications. The Fiat DK representative gave me 2 years of extra warranty on the gearbox, but today - one year later, he has refused to repair the gearbox, apparently due to that my car wasn't service by them (Fiat) the last time. Sad to experience that they won't keep their words when it's really needed

I think that this is a great car in many ways, so I would really like to find a solution to the gearbox problem, maybe rebuild or try out a different oil. Any suggestions here?

LeighJet150 said:

Has your car had any modifications done to it to increase performance/bhp?

Click to expand...

My car has not been modified in order to increase performance/bph in any way. I think the car's fuel consumption is high enough as it is now

Are there any transmission oils that you can recommend for these "stiff" Fiat Bravo gearboxes?

Try Redline MTL transmission oil. Always fixes any gearbox issues ive had

have you tried a trackday? i drove my old black bravo yesterday and it is much slicker and looser gearbox, all i can put this own to is 3 years of fast road and track driving

Hello Bravo Owners,

For some time ago I had huge problems with very stiff gears, especially when cold. See my older posts in this thread.

The problem turned out to be an overfilled gearbox. The mechanic at the workshop, where I had the 60K servers performed, apparently couldn't find the drain-plug nor the level-plug and poured additional 2L of SELENIA TUTELA MATRIX in the gearbox.

I discovered this when changing the gear oil my self, and I couldn't believe my own eyes when a 5L plastic bottle was filled with 4,5 L of oil when I removed the drain-plug!!!

After replacing the transmission oil to the required level, all gearshifts were functioning fine - even when cold.

I did not return back to the car workshop again, since it would be difficult to discuss with them who has done what on the car, and I would basically not feel safe when handing the car back in to their hands again anyway!

So this was how this issue was solved in my car

Now that's worth knowing! good work who would have thought an overfilled gearbox could cause stiff gears.

Incidentally why did it do it after you first changed the oil to selenia matrix? Presumably you overfilled it again?

I didn't overfill it again. I simply tried to investigate why the transmission was acting crazy suddenly after the oil change, and I therefore decided to inspect the oil level. It was a wild shot, but it saved me a lot of money as I was close to have the transmission box replaced with a new one.

Be careful when you let others experiment with you car