(T) Gearbox going?

My Twin Air Panda 4x4 on a 13 plate has been increasingly reluctant to change gear. Car's done 53000 miles and has been regularly maintained by an independent Fiat specialist

Symptoms are:

• Difficulty engaging gears going up the box (under load)
• No real problem changing down the box (not under load)
• Harsh rattling/meshing noise over 3500 rpm in second gear
• Some intermittent vibration in the clutch pedal
• Clutch feels strong (no slipping)
• Car engages gears smoothly at idle with clutch depressed (no noises)
• Gear box engages fine with engine switched off

I was losing some fluid from the reservoir so the master and slave cylinders have been replaced.

I’m thinking bearing in the box? Perhaps flywheel? Any suggestions?

Has the gearbox oil level been checked?
Does the noise appear if you press the clutch pedal with the engine idling or is it worse with the clutch up and idling?

No change in noise with clutch pedal depressed.

I'm draining the box tomorrow to see if there's any debris in the oil.

Good plan.
The reason I asked about the clutch is that if there is a lit of noise on pressing the pedal its most likely to be the release bearing, if the noise is worse with the pedal up then gearbox input bearings. If at speed more likely a gear chipped, synchro or another bearing, of course the DMF (flywheel) is another possibility. Or even a driveshaft.
Good luck though and I hope it's not going to be expensive.

Hi.
I assume then the TA & MJ diesel have a DMF and the 1.2 a solid flywheel?

I'm glad you posted here as I have just had exactly the same symptom start today on my way home from work (30 mile hilly), 64 plate Panda Cross Twinair, nearly 40k miles on the clock. Is fine in all other gears and if drive through the rattle it settles down. Stalls under load with no clutch slip, the rattle is very obvious through the gear stick when in second between 3.5k and 4.5k RPM range.

In my recent experience (4x4 TA) DMF/clutch breakdown. Where does the clutch bite? Pedal near the floor?

Especially the rattle through the gear stick

Well mines been waiting at Stoneacre in Hyde since Saturday morning and they haven’t even looked at it yet, saying loads of breakdowns so won’t be looked until end of week!

Any news on yours?

Just an update.

Got the gearbox away from the engine to reveal a distinctly seized/warped DMF.

All fixed now with new clutch. The box is really sweet and the car feels appreciably quicker.

Although I'm sure I can feel some sort of subtle engagement/disengagement in the drivetrain. But this might be the DMF actually working properly (I've only had the car for a year) or the 4 wheel drive system. I no longer get the ELD unavailable coming up on the dash intermittently.

Just got to sort out the squeaking rear brakes now!!

Quicker or smoother lol?

It's that rattle through the gearstick that seems to be the clue of things going wrong with the DMF/clutch, although my experience was combined with the clutch "bite" heading towards the floor.

It really does feel a bit quicker!! I'm not sure the twin air will ever feel smooth but there is much less vibration now.

How much did they charge you?

Local Fiat Specialist £633 including all parts.

Also, Stop Start works now for first time??? But will automatically start after 20-25 seconds. Love the car but it's a quirky little bugger.