My 2000 Punto (x reg - 31000 miles) has just gone in the garage to have the gearbox stripped because of a strange intermitant meshing noise from 5th to 4th(see ealier post).

Question is, will the clutch assembly have to be dismantled in the process? Ive been having loads of bother with the lower gears, it being a tw*t to get into 1st & 2nd sometimes, and on a couple of occasions its flat refused to accept 3rd (once its in the gate!) - so am thinking something in the clutch is knackered - ave told the garage about it, im just wondering if theyll see the clutch assmbly by removing the gearbox anyway?

I've noticed alot of gearbox/clutch posts on this forum - are Fiats really that poor?

any advice/help would be greatly appriciated!

ps its not 3 years old yet and last week the bloody exhaust went, 3 weeks ago the starter went! - am i lucky or what?

Rule of the thumb is to replace clutch whilst gearbox is off.

fiat clutches are crap yes, and its your clutch bearings that have gone.