Hi ,

new to the forum and looking for some help.

I have a fiat 500 1.2 pop with just shy 82700 miles on the clock.The car has just started to make a whining noise when changing down into first gear .It sounds like its in reverse, is the only way i can describe the whining noise.

The gearbox or whatever it is doesn't happen in any other gears. or when it s being driven just when i change down,also a bit of a dry gear sound when pulling off in first.

I don't want to take this to my local fiat garage as they are a complete rip off and tried to sting me last time it went in for a service which is unfortunate as i trusted them .

anyone else experienced this or any ideas on what it could be .

much appreciated

Simon

Simons312 said:

Hi ,

new to the forum and looking for some help.

I have a fiat 500 1.2 pop with just shy 82700 miles on the clock.The car has just started to make a whining noise when changing down into first gear .It sounds like its in reverse, is the only way i can describe the whining noise.

The gearbox or whatever it is doesn't happen in any other gears. or when it s being driven just when i change down,also a bit of a dry gear sound when pulling off in first.

I don't want to take this to my local fiat garage as they are a complete rip off and tried to sting me last time it went in for a service which is unfortunate as i trusted them .

anyone else experienced this or any ideas on what it could be .

much appreciated

Simon

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Hi. Its well worth checking the level of oil in the gearbox.

Is 1st noisy when engaged..just the actual changing down..??

Charlie

Hi Charlie ,

thanks for the reply ,checked level of oil last week and it had a top up made changing gear a bit easier but not the noise.

the noise is when im driving and slowing down and as you change down through the gears when it gets to first the noise is a heavy whining noise obviously i have to depress the clutch but its just as bad without the clutch .

like i said i don't trust the dealer and not sure when it was due or if they have ever done a gearbox oil change .All services have been done by FIAT .

Simons312 said:

Hi Charlie ,

thanks for the reply ,checked level of oil last week and it had a top up made changing gear a bit easier but not the noise.

Click to expand...

Whining that's only present when in one particular gear can only be the gearbox.

If it's been running with low oil level for any length of time, the gearbox will have suffered excessive wear internally, most likely a bearing or two, and possibly the cogs & shafts as well. It could run for many thousands of miles like this, but the only way to cure the noise will be to rebuild or replace the gearbox, neither of which is likely to be cheap.

Rebuilding a gearbox with new bearings on worn gears & shafts does not always cure the noise. Your best bet might be to look for a suitable secondhand gearbox from a breakers, and get an independent garage to fit it if you're not handy with the spanners. There are lots available from breakers as it's not a part that's needed all that often. I'm not suggesting you should buy this one, but it gives you some idea of the likely cost of a secondhand 'box. I also spotted one with just 2000 miles for £200; at those sort of prices, it's not worth messing about rebuilding one that's done over 80k and has been run whilst low on oil.

Also keep a close eye on the gearbox oil level going forward; running with low oil could also have damaged the oil seals and it might not stay at the correct level.

DIY owners would be well advised to check their gearbox oil level annually, and replace it every 5yrs/50000 miles. The 'box in the 1.2 manual is usually trouble free, but no gearbox will last long if seriously starved of oil. Look after it and it should easily last the life of the car.

Charlie your an absolute star ,

thank you very much for the information. i am much better with a set of spanners on a motorbike and will have a try at anything,but having never removed a car gearbox attempting to remove the gearbox outside my house on the road would be a big no no.

but i think i am going to contact fiat who have done all my services and see if they are honest enough to admit when the oil was changed if ever,if it hasn't well it can only mean they are liable for the gearbox repair.

after that i might try the second hand gearbox option and find a decent local mechanic to fit it. ( which might be hard as i find it hard to trust some of them)

again thanks very much for helping out just what i wanted to hear.

all the best

Simon

If it's the same(ish) gearbox as the Puntos then it's not known for its strength. If the problem is worse in the lower gears and reduces as you change up then it's usually the input bearing... lower gears put more "leverage" on the shaft and so there is more movement and noise, as you change gears along the shaft this will become less.

Any decent gearbox specialist should be able to do a diagnosis and reasonably quick repair.

Gearbox oil these days (synthetic) should last 10 years or 100,000 miles, depending on how it gets used.

Most cars don't like going into first when the car is moving, say pulling up to a roundabout going front 2nd to 1st, the trick is not to try until stopped or(double declutch) to take the car out of gear, let the clutch out then back in then try select first, I'm not surprised it complains but would not be overly concerned at the moment