I know gear selectors/boxes are often tight when new, but changing down to second is so difficult on our Sedici that I'm wondering if it's a characteristic? Any attempt to get into second (direct from 3rd or from neutral) requires a very slow deliberate action and even then can baulk badly. I'm hoping it will wear in so that this improves.....

Anybody else noticed this?

Hi there,
mines EXACTLY the same - second is a nightmare.

However, I did read this was normal in several reviews of the car before I bought it. - I presume you have the six speed box, as thats the one with the problem.

Mines due its first service at the end of May, I will get the dealer to check it out then.

andy

Thanks andytran. It's always good to share the pain! There's also a swede on the SX4 club forum with a diesel 6-speed who describes the gearbox as "a bit grumpy when cold!" so perhaps it is a "characteristic". Great. Not on the Sedici I test drove though... was ever thus! (same sort of experience with the multijet Panda I drove on test - it was far more quiet than the one I bought...). I'll be getting the Sedici checked out too come service time, if we can stand to wait that long...

Maybe the one you testdrove was warmed up?

Mines 100% better when warm - its like wrestling with Hulk Hogan when cold!

Sorry, couldnt think of a better comparison.....

Andy

Mine does exactly the same!
From what I can gather, the ratio between the 2nd and 3rd gears is quite long so that if (for example) you slow down from 3rd and try selecting 2nd and the revs are too high then the 2nd gear bulks.
The 1st gear is so short that you can happily poddle along at walking pace in 2nd.
Treat the 2nd gear as a 1st and you will see how smoother the gear change is! i.e slow right down in 2nd to the point you think the engine will stall and you will see what i mean! Mine is the 1.9 mind - not sure what the petrol version is like.
The gearbox is stiff as hell when cold so dont force it. When properly warmed up it is fine.
Double clutch it until you have a few miles on it!

I had the exact same problem, except my gear linkage cable is after breaking on me while driving TWICE!!! When this happens the car will not go into gear at all, you have to get it towed away. This is not good, I knew it had something to do with not being able to select 2nd properly especially when its cold, i'd say from forcing it into 2nd gear in the morning done some damage to the cable!! im just after getting the gear linkage repaired again for the second time, waiting on the garage to deliver the car to me, I wonder if they sorted it out this time! Only have the car 13months.

New to the site and sad to read about the gearchange problems. Mine gets worse as the car gets warmer. Once it is warm I have a difficult job trying to engage first gear and as I live in Crete it gets warm very quickly. Its a five speed petrol with just under 10k miles on the clock. Can this stiffness be adjusted out at all?
Nick

From what I've read the gearbox is usually only an issue on the 6-speed Diesel.
Our 5-speed petrol can be a little notchy on occasion and sometimes can be awkward to engage reverse but I find selecting neutral / lifting clutch / depressing and re-trying usually works.....

Hi,

I bought my Fiat Sedici 1.9 JTD (4 WD) in April 2008 and I've experienced the same troubles (2nd gear almost impossible to change). I told this my local dealer in Austria (warranty) and they informed me that this is a known problem (!!).

Up to a specific serial number all sedici experience this problem (and then the gearbox has been redesigned). My dealer told me that this is no official recall but IF customers complain at Fiat they will get a synchronizer ring replaced in the gearbox (3 days of work).

To cut a long story short: my gearbox has been fixed and now the gear change is much better (still not ultra-smooth but acceptable).

So ask your dealer and make sure that they fix the problem for free...

Regards,

Marcello

Hi, I bought a used Sedici a couple of months ago and have had exeactly the same gear change problem from 3 down to 2 as mentioned above. I am still fighting with Arnold Clark Fiat in Aberdeen to get this resolved........ They say that they have changed out virtually all parts of the 6 speed gear box, but the problem still exists. As mentioned this is only when the car is cold and once it has warmed up the car is great. The car is still under warranty until December 09 so I am going to keep fighting to try and get it resolved as I am worried that if I keep forcing the gear into 2nd when it is cold that I will cause damage that I will then be liable for once it runs out of warranty.

Re: Sedici gearchange

I've had the synchromesh modifications carried out on my 1.9 diesel 6 MT gearbox which is a marked improvement but... in cold weather, 2nd gear is still stiff initially. I believe the transaxle was re-filled with the appropriate semi-synthetic gear oil (75w-90 GL-4). Has anyone found any improvement using a fully synthetic or a specific brand of gear oil ?

Re: Sedici gearchange

you could try Automatic Transmission Fluid instead of gearbox oil....

Just to echo what Miffed said.

Ours was an absolute pig to get into second gear. Took it back to our little local Fiat dealer who did the mod for us FOC. Which took a couple of days.

It's still not perfect when cold but never the 'tug of war' like shift from before the mod, and to be honest if you weren't aware of the problems from before probably wouldn't even notice anything now.

We have an '07 1.9 Multijet with 6 speed box.

We've got at 07 (56 plate) 1.9 Multijet with exactly the same issue - in garage today for service with request that they take a look at this. No problems when engine is hot but when cold 2nd is a b*tch to select.

What was the mod the dealer carried out?

My SX4 was sold this summer so I don't have the paperwork anymore but the gearbox mod had Suzuki GB's go-ahead and carried out under warranty so there will be a tech bulletin. However, I would first ask the garage to check the MT gear oil level. Suzuki GB advised only 2.0 litres was required to me even though the owner's manual states 2.5 litres. If it is overfilled, even by a little, you should find the correct amount of oil helps with the problem, especially with the cursing !

Re: Sedici gearchange

tinytim said:

you could try Automatic Transmission Fluid instead of gearbox oil....

Click to expand...

Why would this make a difference?