Guys (and gals),
trying to work out if the oil leak at my front nearside is from the gearbox.
The oil seems to be dripping down over the CV boot cover on the front n/s wheel. The oil is clean and has no carbon build up, which would suggest that it is from the gearbox. There was a fairly large puddle and the level on the dipstick looks OK
If it is gearbox oil, where is the leak likely to be coming from.
As usual, any help is gratefully received.
Andy

Hi there,

I have a leak there too, it is the gearbox, however there is also the chance of a leak from the distributor/engine block seal. I had to replace that too, and then discovered the gearbox was leaking also.

I am planning to change the tripod joint and seals to remedy this when I get a chance - until then it leaks. The previous owner sealed the CV boot up with a tie wrap to stop the oil coming through, which delayed diagnosis and also limited the leak a bit.

The gearbox only holds about 4 litres of oil, so if the leak is very bad I would suggest giving it a top up.

cheers Martin,
Upon closer inspection, I confirmed it was the gearbox right enough.
Looks like I'll be spending some time underneath it.
How big a job is it likely to be.

it's that springy rubber thing! (i'm no expert!) my dad says it will take a lot of work to replace it, he tried turning it round cos the split was only small, turns out there was a split on the other side too. my panda ran smoothly for ages without any gearbox oil at all so don't worry!

It's a messy job - about a morning for me to do - you need the correct boots (do both, and there are two sizes - you need the right ones).

You need some unusual tools too -
a 12mm hex adapter for the oil drain and fill (same size as the sump).
a V large socket and lots of leverage to undo the hub nut (slacken then before you get the wheels off the ground).

The rest of it isn't too bad - but be prepared for oil spillage, even after draining.

It's about 3 years since I did that job, but more recently I did an outboard boot - some of it's detailed in this thread:

https://www.fiatforum.com/showthread.php?t=5029

I haven't got access to the URLs for the pictures, but will post them over the weekend, if time permits.

Don't leave the gearbox without oil - that's one of the reasons they die in spectacular fashion, even if it does take hundreds or thousands of miles to do it.

mine's dead now anyway!bless her cotton socks, she really didn't like the taste of gear oil and the whole of my road looks like a dalmatian!

Just a quick question this time.
When topping the oil up in the gearbox. Where do you fill it from. Is it through the rectangular rubber plug in the top of the gearbox, or is it through the hex headed plug on the lower front nearside of the gearbox.
Don't want to fix it then fill the wrong place with oil!

The top up is the hex headed stud at the front, halfway down - as you described it.

It's a pig to undo, and awkward to fill into as well.

The rubber plug you describe sounds like the cover over the timing marks on the flywheel: most of the Pandas I've met have lost this cover years ago..

Further to doing the boot - I've forgotten to mention a joint splitter.
You need it for the trackrod end, at the very least.
If your splitter is good enough, you can undo the bottom suspension joint - and maul the hub about as well as the drive shaft, instead of undoing the hub nut... take your pick.

I presume the posting of pictures still works as before...

Cheers John, picture is great.
It started to rain really heavily just as I was about to start work(stroke of luck if you ask me) - so it looks like it is tomorrow's job.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks again
Andy

I had probably the same problem: oil leak right down in the gearbox on that rubber pyramid -like object (we call it manžeta - I don't know english...) and DID'NT solv it by buying another! Instead, my mechanic took some tape like stuff and put some around shaft of the front left weel right where it touches that rubber thing. that SOLVED the problem for good. I dont know how do you call that tape-like stuff but I know that plummers use it and it is white colour.