Maybe some of you may be interested as to how my gearbox died [xx(] ...
Even if you're not I'm telling you anyway!
Thursday - 15:30 - heard this loud bang coming from under the car complete with a shudder. After turning off the stereo it seemed okay so I carried on home, distance 8 miles. A bit closer to home there was this whining noise but the Panda has always made noises so it was ignored. Normally I just turn up the stereo ...
Friday - 05:15 - still noisy and getting louder: a little bit worried by now I drove the 8 miles to work with no music ...
14:45 - driving home once again. Still noisy but didn't seem too bad. I must check the bearings or cylinder head gasket soon. Doesn't sound like bearings; normally when I turn a corner the noise changes. Or head gasket; last time that failed I was blowing clouds of steam out the exhaust. Oh God.
1.5 miles from home - oh dear! Severe crunching noises and shuddering to a halt on a busy main road. Muttered expletives. A phone call to a local garage resulted in paying 40 quid for a tow home. I just KNEW I shouldn't have left the RAC.
The tow-truck driver's diagnosis: Looks like driveshafts. What's the mileage? 94k? Why don't you ring Podders? [our local scrappie] No, I mean, it's just about had it hasn't it?
More muttered expletives. That was end of May.
I've looked at the drive shafts very carefully. No apparent problems, so I decided to look under the car properly. Then I found the obvious: a gaping hole in the gearbox casing. Oh bother.
The bang on Thursday was obviously accompanied by the gearbox dumping its oil. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did ...
I did ring Podders - to supply me with a 5-speed gearbox, complete with lever and all linkages, taken off a 1000S with 65k miles on the clock (believed genuine as the interior was nice) - removed by them after having to lift the tatty Uno off its roof first - all for a very reasonable 55 quid - paid by cheque too.
I still need to fit it, but I'll need a clutch first. The last one had been slipping for a while ...
Okay, enough already.
Steve.
1989 Fiat Panda 1000CL
Electronic Distributor
Lots'n'lots'n'lots of RUST!
Currently immobile with a knackered gearbox
Replacement 5-speed 'box in garage ready to fit ...
Even if you're not I'm telling you anyway!
Thursday - 15:30 - heard this loud bang coming from under the car complete with a shudder. After turning off the stereo it seemed okay so I carried on home, distance 8 miles. A bit closer to home there was this whining noise but the Panda has always made noises so it was ignored. Normally I just turn up the stereo ...
Friday - 05:15 - still noisy and getting louder: a little bit worried by now I drove the 8 miles to work with no music ...
14:45 - driving home once again. Still noisy but didn't seem too bad. I must check the bearings or cylinder head gasket soon. Doesn't sound like bearings; normally when I turn a corner the noise changes. Or head gasket; last time that failed I was blowing clouds of steam out the exhaust. Oh God.
1.5 miles from home - oh dear! Severe crunching noises and shuddering to a halt on a busy main road. Muttered expletives. A phone call to a local garage resulted in paying 40 quid for a tow home. I just KNEW I shouldn't have left the RAC.
The tow-truck driver's diagnosis: Looks like driveshafts. What's the mileage? 94k? Why don't you ring Podders? [our local scrappie] No, I mean, it's just about had it hasn't it?
More muttered expletives. That was end of May.
I've looked at the drive shafts very carefully. No apparent problems, so I decided to look under the car properly. Then I found the obvious: a gaping hole in the gearbox casing. Oh bother.
The bang on Thursday was obviously accompanied by the gearbox dumping its oil. I'm surprised it lasted as long as it did ...
I did ring Podders - to supply me with a 5-speed gearbox, complete with lever and all linkages, taken off a 1000S with 65k miles on the clock (believed genuine as the interior was nice) - removed by them after having to lift the tatty Uno off its roof first - all for a very reasonable 55 quid - paid by cheque too.
I still need to fit it, but I'll need a clutch first. The last one had been slipping for a while ...
Okay, enough already.
Steve.
1989 Fiat Panda 1000CL
Electronic Distributor
Lots'n'lots'n'lots of RUST!
Currently immobile with a knackered gearbox
Replacement 5-speed 'box in garage ready to fit ...