I have a problem with my Fiat Marea 2.0 HLX. When changing down to 3rd gear it crunches. It also does this when changing up into 3rd if you are not too smooth with you gearchange. I've had it checked out by the local dealer and they are fairly certain that the synchromesh has gone on 3rd. Changing up or down the other gears seems ok. They say repair will be a long and costly job. Will it be cheaper to have the gearbox stripped and repaired or shall I consider replacing it with a reconditioned one? Or is their diagnosis perhaps incorrect?

Dont ask me, whatever I say will upset "Big" Al.

diagnostic sounds right to me. The main labour will be getting the box on/off, the advantage to a recon is that all they have to do is take it on/off, no storage and repairs inbetween. the disadvatage is that you don't know where it's come fron and although its reconditioned it may be no better and you won't know until it's on the car. It may say with a warrenty but if you buy it from one person, get it fitted by another and drive it yourself it's very difficult to claim under warrenty as they wil all blame each other! If you have no other problems with your box then i would just get 3rd seen to. And i would get the clutch done at the same time as the parts are cheap and you will have the box off anyway.

Any idea how much a recon gearbox would cost if I went for that option? Also, how long a job is it? Another question I do have is when should the cambelt be changed? The car has done under 50k and is 5 1/2 years old. Will it be as expensive a job as the Bravo HGT?

Re: Re: Help - Repair or replace Marea Gearbox?

1st off your "upsetting" Alan, not "Big" Al, they are different people.

2nd i had my gearbox reconned on my old uno and, with a service, it cost me £250, but thats not a marea!!! lol

Re: Re: Help - Repair or replace Marea Gearbox?

Yep,

Same job as the HGT - SAME ENGINE, YOU SEE.

Get your hand in your pocket.

Re: Re: Re: Help - Repair or replace Marea Gearbox?

i believe the only reason the hgt is so expensive for a cambelt change is the fact that the engine needs taking out to do it. So telling the guy that it is purely the engine which dictates the cost of the job would be inaccurate. It also depends on the size of the engine bay, which is the same therefore the same cost. But i guess now i'm just being prdantic hey rog

Re: Re: Re: Re: Help - Repair or replace Marea Gearbox?

Whoever told you it was your synchro that had gone i'm afraid this is not quite true in actual fact it's bulk rings that are worn but they are connected to the third gear sychro so really just as costly. I know most of you think that a franchise garage would rip you off but if they reconditiond the would have to use new parts and those parts would have to be measured for a perfect fit. If you opted for a recon from a franchise garage although its called recon in actual fact it would be a new transmision unit complete.
According to other posts on the forum most have sugested that the cambelt is changed around 36k along with the tensioner so if your car has done more than this then you should get it changed a.s.a.p. hope this is of some help although not a solution to your problem at least you know the cure now.

exrovermech