(T) Gearbox Centering?

All- noticed our Stilo's Gearlever seems to have stopped 'centering' - i.e. does not sit in the 3rd/4th plane? You have to manually move from the 2nd across to the 3rd gear plane and from 4th to the 5th?
Any ideas what could be causing and cures?

dead selector spring or what ever its called, not very expensive

Any advice on how to change? Is it easy? Where is it? Any assistance appreciated.....

Anyone?????? I have a feeling its cable related - can you access the cabling from inside the car under the gearstick?

Day off tomorrow so gonna have a check if anyone can shed some light before then - appreciated

I've had the gearchange top gaiter off to replace and you can get to the underneath cover quite easily. Have a look on ePer

Can't see any kind of selector 'spring' listed on ePer? Anyone?!!! Getting to the point where the Mrs does not want to drive it. Clutch and gears select fine its just affecting the movement between 2/3 and 4/5 and on downchanges.............

Take the gearshift top gaiter off, it's only a 5min job, and have a look. Is it not making any effort at all to self centre? Might just need lubricating in there.

The cables just go forwards and backwards so any centring must be done at the gearshift

Hi Deckchair - cheers for the info - Yes taken the shift off but you can't see anything really - the ball-socket looks free enough? Have lubricated already - must be something underneath that pulls the lever across the box?

Have a look here. A few people with the same problem
http://www.fiatforum.com/marea-techn...ear-stick.html

It's in the Marea section but relates to a Stilo too

Sorted! Thanks all especially Deckchair. Another forum result.
Actually found some info on the Stilosport forum too.
The problem is actually at the gearbox end. The cables there sit in a pivot plate that is prone to sticking due to build-up of dirt. A bit tricky to get access too - I'm sure battery removal would help but get your hand in there - skin your knuckles - and give it a good turn or three. Lubricate freely with WD40 on the pivot bolt - apparently these can seize too - FIAT replacement kit available and at the two cables where they sit with rubber boots.
Job done!.....
Apparently its a common issue on 1.8 Stilos and HGT Puntos which use the same box.

Lubricate at numbers 2,5 & 6

Great news if lubricating solves the problem, as I have the exact same problem with my 1.8 Stilo.

The gearlever on my 3 door JTD stopped self-centring about 2 weeks ago. The car’s done about 67000 miles.

I haven’t used the car for about a week since I was told by a tyre fitting centre that a suspension spring was snapped.

My car is now at the dealer to have the springs replaced and I asked if sorting the gearlever self-centring would be an expensive repair. I have been told that it needs a “gear linkage unit” which will cost £142 + VAT + (at present) an unknown amount for labour as the dealer says they have not fitted one before.

The Fiat dealer charges £58 + VAT per hour for labour, so I think I’ll drive it carefully when I get the car back and take it to a nearby independent with a print out of this thread and ask him to have a look at it.

If anyone has any other tips regarding what could be the problem I’d be grateful for your advice…..

The Pivot plate thats known to seize is on top of the gearbox and house the ends of the cables that run from the gearstick. Theres a FIAT replacement kit that replaces the lot including the plate bolt thats the problem - the kit is only about £20 from a dealer! I'll get the part no. for you when the online ePER becomes less busy.......... Only issue is access which may mean a few hours labour if you don't want to tackle yourself. My lubrication has sorted though I did feel it stiffen slightly when hot so may eventually need replacing too. Defo the cause though so not sure what that linkage unit is which they are trying to get you to pay £142 for?!

If its not as efficient when hot then its probably because the wd40 is burning off, you will need to take it apart and regrease it with some high temp grease to make sure its ok and doesnt wear out.

that's quite cheap



For dealer anyway