Hi all,

After some help and advice. Feel like i've been ripped off a bit. I bought a Fiat Punto 2005, Active 1.2 for just over £1000.00 from a garage. 30 days waranty (which has now expired). I had to get a new timing belt and new fan belt. Car has only done 40,000 miles. I was driving a couple of weeks ago and I heard a snap. I was stuck in second gear and unable to change gear (the gear stick just went floppy).


Paid 180 quid for a second hand selector and a new gearbox cable. Drove it a week and it's struggling to change into second gear. I have to go from first to third. After about 30 minutes of driving, I can use second gear no problem.


I can't afford to keep pumping money into this. I want to get it back into a working condition and then sell it. Can you give me some pointers on where to start with this? I'm not completely new to car mechanics, but i'm certainly no expert. Ideally, I want to fix this problem myself.


Help and advice.. please?


Lynx3ffect

Also... when I do manage to get it into second, there is some crunching going from second to third.

lynx3ffect said:

Also... when I do manage to get it into second, there is some crunching going from second to third.

Click to expand...

It does not sound so good. On the plus side you can get plenty of help here if you want to fix the car yourself.

I am supposing the problems with the gearbox led to the problem with the cable.

Was there a particular reason you replaced the 'selector'? What part did you replace? I think the selector is the thing on the top of the gearbox which the cables attach to rather than the thing inside the car

I'm guessing so. The guy that fixed the cable and selector, wasn't very specific and is now ignoring communication between me and him.

I originally spoke to the guy and he quoted me 280 for a second hand gear box and a selector - as he diagnosed it over the phone. However, after he looked at it, he said it must of been sticking for a while, because i've damaged the selector and by continuing to change gears I had snapped the cable. I honestly think i've been had of.


I'm guessing I need to go through the diagnostic process myself from the beginning. Any idea where I start?

Regards,

Lynx3ffect

lynx3ffect said:

I'm guessing so. The guy that fixed the cable and selector, wasn't very specific and is now ignoring communication between me and him.

I originally spoke to the guy and he quoted me 280 for a second hand gear box and a selector - as he diagnosed it over the phone. However, after he looked at it, he said it must of been sticking for a while, because i've damaged the selector and by continuing to change gears I had snapped the cable. I honestly think i've been had of.


I'm guessing I need to go through the diagnostic process myself from the beginning. Any idea where I start?

Regards,

Lynx3ffect

Click to expand...

If you take the battery out you can see the top of the gearbox. It should be easily possible to select all the forward gears using your hands. and there should be zero resistance coming from the cable. The cable should be adequately lubricated and not obviously dry. The cables are held to the gearbox by ball and socket joints. Using just your hands if you twist the socket to the maximum and push very hard away from the ball they will pop off and more easily clip back on again. If you use a screwdriver to lever them off keep away from the balls and still twist the socket. The gear stick should be completely floppy without the gearbox connection.