Dear all,

I have just acquired a 1.4 Doblo 8V Dynamic although it's anything but dynamic.
I have two things happening that I think may be related. Opening and closing the throttle causes the gear lever to move up to 2 inches for and aft. You can feel a thump through the chassis. At the same time there is clutch judder which is almost impossible to manage. I can just about get it to pull away smoothly but its hard. It's done 77,000, it's manual with 5 gears. No evidence of any oil leaks or smell of oil on clutch.

I am assuming the two are related here - how big a job is replacing the mountings? Is it a home job. I have all the usual like trolley jacks etc to work it with but will only attempt if it's simple bolt on / bolt off replacement.

Is there anywhere to get a Haynes type manual for this?

Thanks for any answers

Max

Gear lever should not be moving like that at all and as you suspect that must be why theres judder. Theres no haynes manual only elearning book thing, eg on ebay but be careful most dont cover 1.4

Ok. I'll watch that.

johnhififan said:

Gear lever should not be moving like that at all and as you suspect that must be why theres judder. Theres no haynes manual only elearning book thing, eg on ebay but be careful most dont cover 1.4

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John, am i still new to the Marque so i am likely to ask daft questions. Do you know if this engine/box combination is fitted to any other FIAT vehicle?

The 1.4 is the Fully Integrated Robotised Engine which has variable valve timing, electronic fly by wire throttle, high swirl combustion chambers, low load valve springs to reduce friction, a high 11:1 compression ratio, high torque at low engine speeds, a returnless fuel system to reduce vapour build up in the tank, a flexible flywheel(ooer thats gonna cost). It was Euro 4 compliant ahead of the regulation.

Layout wise, I saw an almost identical engine in a new 1.2 Fiat 500 so its likely to be the same in Puntos etc. Bear in mind that capacity and heads (8v 16v) may vary.

http://www.italiaspeed.com/new_models/2005/fiat/doblo/engines.html

Havent got a worn or loose engine mount have you?
Where did you get the car from, can you not return it for seller to fix, did you test drive it?

Hi,usual thing is the rear mount underneath between gearbox and crossmember,its a type of void bush and splits at sides allowing the engine to move front to rear.If you can safely get underneath it with suitable supports, you can put a bar in it and see if it has split or is weak, easy to change,think its couple 19mm spanners for through bolt and 20mm socket for bolt into crossmember,hope this helps,John.

T14086 said:

Havent got a worn or loose engine mount have you?
Where did you get the car from, can you not return it for seller to fix, did you test drive it?

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T14086 - yes I did and this was not apparent at the time. In fact it has come on quite quickly- i.e. in 100 miles.
johnhifafan - a flexible flywheel? What's that?
Liftex - I'll go look. Thats sound nice and simple. I am sure its failed as the engine is moving very predictably on open/close throttle.
Feeling a bit got at as a noise has appeared now which seems to be somewhere in the final drive. Sounds a bit like a metalworking lathe. It's a grinding rattle, directly related to road speed, does not happen in neutral, gear does not matter, road speed does. As throttle is opened, after engine moves with a thump, this noise will appear. Load does not seem to affect, but road speed does.
I shall shortly be seeing what the warranty is worth.....,

Booked in at Warwick Fiat Dealer on Tuesday to get lower mount replaced. Don't have time or space to do it myself. Clutch judder now reaching epic proportions.

Doe anyone have any recommendations of a known Fiat workshop in Warwickshire. I am at Stratford upon Avon.

Thanks

To anyone who's looking.
Turns out mountings are fine. The judder is the clutch itself and that MAY in turn be due to leakage from the gearbox input shaft. The noise I can hear seems to be the input shaft bearings which COULD explain the noises I am getting.
It appears that the gear lever moving is due to something INTERNAL in the box. I imagine it's the selector forks are moving enough to yank at the cables running between the lever and the box.
Sorry that's a bit jumbled.
1. Bearing failing > Seal damaged > Clutch contaminated > Clutch juddering.
2. Bearing failing > internal shafts moving about > selectors being pulled > gear lever moves.

oh and the warranty company seem lukewarm. can't imagine why.