Hi I've just bought a 2000 reg 1.2 8v and it had gearbox noise and a high clutch. I removed the gearbox today to find the bell housing had a lot of oil in it. As I expected the input shaft bearing has play, but as I looked into the bottom of the bell housing there is a triangular hole. Its too dark to take any photos or look any further tonight but I just wanted to know if this was a hole could the gearbox oil escape through it or is it just empty space below it?
Thanks,
Dan

A triangular hole is wierd. A rectangular hole could be the flywheel/tdc inspection hatch.

fingers99 said:

A triangular hole is wierd. A rectangular hole could be the flywheel/tdc inspection hatch.

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"That's weird", "that's unusual", "I've never seen that before" all describe my luck in cars lol :bang:.
I'll try and get a pic before I strip box down.
Thanks,
Dan

Just a few shots, had to use the flash because its dark lol


Thanks,
Dan

EDIT: new photo links

Invisible!

Stripped the box down and found the input shaft bearing had collapsed and one of the bearing was in the diff casing. The hole is from the diff casing to the bell housing. Looked at the box and it seems okay no wear or broken teeth just the input shaft bearing and this hole. Its not massive and doesn't seem to be a structural area, its letting oil leak so I'm going to look at getting it welded if I can rather than buying a new box.
Thanks,
Dan

That's very odd.

Up to you, but the diff housing seems to be the weak area. I scrapped an otherwise fine Sei box that was jumping out of second a few months back -- I'm sure someone in the Cento section will have something similar you could just pop your internals in.

fingers99 said:

That's very odd.

Up to you, but the diff housing seems to be the weak area. I scrapped an otherwise fine Sei box that was jumping out of second a few months back -- I'm sure someone in the Cento section will have something similar you could just pop your internals in.

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That's not a bad idea, my only question is why the Cento area?
Thanks,
Dan

Because we're always breaking gearboxes. Strange thing is, that while the Puntistas tend to do the input shaft seals and bearings, Cento folk tend to loose 2nd or 3rd!

the hole appears to suggest that something has made its way from the differential housing into the gearbox bell housing and as i'm sure you've found is also probably where all the oil has come from.

welding this isn't as straight forward as its a Cast part so will need to be welded by somebody who knows what they are doing with castings, also given the direction of the damage i would be carefully inspecting all the components of the differential to see where the projectile came from that caused the hole, as something somewhere must have broken.

I think for safeties sake you might be better off with another box especially as they are pretty common and ten a penny on ebay and in scrap yards.

TIG welding one of those isn't a problem per se, although you'd have to be pretty sure to locate the ends of any cracks. Problem is that no-one would touch it in an unstripped state -- any oil or dirt or aluminium oxide would seriously contaminate the weld.

Diff to bellhousing damage seems more likely to me than vice-versa (the damage to the bearing could well have been a result of running low on oil, in which case the rerst of the bearings will be in a pretty poor state).

Andy's suggestion is probably the safest bet.

Hi, another box would be the safer option but that all depends on cost, its becoming a bit of a money pit! Is there anyway I can check the bearings that are in there? As I can get the bearing and seal for less than £20 then just need a casing.
The gears and diff all look good and the diff turns smoothly, not tried to turn the input shaft yet.
If I was to replace the box or even put my internals into a dead one, what other cars can I get a box from apart from another Punto mk2 1.2 8v
Thanks,
Dan

i would scrap the lot and buy a punto box
just not worth doing anything else

I'm unfamiliar with the Puntos, is this gearbox limited to the mk2 1.2 or was it fitted to other cars?
Thanks,
Dan

danielb said:

I'm unfamiliar with the Puntos, is this gearbox limited to the mk2 1.2 or was it fitted to other cars?
Thanks,
Dan

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well i once tried fitting a mk1 and it was different
i see you live in sheffield so either a breaker or ebay should turn up a good box for reasonable money very near you

not cheap on the bay apart from the one in lincoln starting at 50 notes
some of the sellers are having a laugh surely

s and b said:

well i once tried fitting a mk1 and it was different
i see you live in sheffield so either a breaker or ebay should turn up a good box for reasonable money very near you

not cheap on the bay apart from the one in lincoln starting at 50 notes
some of the sellers are having a laugh surely

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At least its not just me that thinks there expensive, Ive just submitted parts request with 1st choice spares, I have 15 quotes so far ranging from £140 to £250 .
I also made the mistake of giving a phone number and now every supplier calls me before they submit a quote :bang:
Thanks,
Dan

EDIT: Also just been told by a "fiat specialist" that the the 2007 Grande Punto is the same box just for reference for anyone else *But don't take my word for it *

Also just rung all the local breakers, £120+VAT with no guarantee is the cheapest.

what about the one in lincoln if you put a bid on it?
nice little day out with the smell of gear oil on your return journey if you win it

If 5 speed a Seicento box (but do check that it's the "dry shaft" type box) will be the same (although you'll have to swap the clutch arm, selector box and probably the cups over). If you get one, I bags the selector box!

I've sold perfectly good ones for 50 quid.

fingers99 said:

If 5 speed a Seicento box (but do check that it's the "dry shaft" type box) will be the same (although you'll have to swap the clutch arm, selector box and probably the cups over). If you get one, I bags the selector box!

I've sold perfectly good ones for 50 quid.

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and i bags the battery