Technical Abarth GP SS Gearbox

[Touk]

Apologies if this might have been better in a different sub-forum, but I wasn't sure if this would be deemed a more AGP specific question.

I have a 58' Abarth GP Essesse.

Basically I've had a horrendous whirring noise for a week or so and assumed it was wheel bearings or something (i'm not very great when it comes to the inner workings of cars).

Anyway took it to the garage that does all the missus' parents business vehicles and he said it's the dif (differential?), he said he drained the oil and it was "filled with metal" and that I'd probably need a new gear box, or it might need re-furbing. He's gonna give me an idea of cost tomorrow.

Just want to get an idea of what you guys think the damage might be and if it's worthwhile investing in a brand new gearbox, or if a re-furbed one would be OK

TIA

 

[cobalt01]

All depends on what you want pay out. A refurbished would be lot cheaper than a new one. Seeing metal within the oil isn't good. I've had a used gearbox put in my old punto which wasn't cheap.

 

[FatherJack]

Its fairly well known that the AGP gearbox is made of cheese

 

[Touk]

When you say costly, what are we talking? I've looked around online and seen the whole job for a standard punt mk2 for £450 - which i assume was likely for a used box - not sure.

 

[cobalt01]

450 be used one. More than likely a used one will be used but a decent refurbished one could be as good has new one

 

[SteveTjet]

Hi mate

I had the same issue recently on my AGP. it turned out to be the bearings in the gearbox.

Mine whirred in 5th and 6th, you could here it more are 60mph ish. also in 1st when you engaged it then accelerated the lever jumped.

I got mine sorted at the weekend, new bearings in 6th 5th ans 1st. all is good again.

 

[Touk]

Hey Steve. That sounds a lot like mine, whirring more in higher gears and at speed. Would getting new bearings resolve the issue maybe? Mechanic said when he drained the oil, it was full of metal, which i assumed would be from a bearing so the issue would maybe be worse than just the bearing. But then again, I'm not mechanic!

Thanks so far guys.

 

[CSR dog]

Apologies if this might have been better in a different sub-forum, but I wasn't sure if this would be deemed a more AGP specific question.

I have a 58' Abarth GP Essesse.

Basically I've had a horrendous whirring noise for a week or so and assumed it was wheel bearings or something (i'm not very great when it comes to the inner workings of cars).

Anyway took it to the garage that does all the missus' parents business vehicles and he said it's the dif (differential?), he said he drained the oil and it was "filled with metal" and that I'd probably need a new gear box, or it might need re-furbing. He's gonna give me an idea of cost tomorrow.

Just want to get an idea of what you guys think the damage might be and if it's worthwhile investing in a brand new gearbox, or if a re-furbed one would be OK

TIA

Sounds like you have suffered the M32 gearbox failure, 1st and 2nd gear bearings normally fail and if they aren't got to quickly they cause more damage and have been known to come through the gearbox casing.

 

[SteveTjet]

hey TOUK

I got told by the gearbox centre that the oil recommended for these boxes isn't up to the job when the box gets hot, which results in the bearings not being lubricated sufficiently, resulting in excess wear.

Having the bearings sorted will solve the issue, mine is as quiet as a mouse now, and runs much smoother in general.

 

[Touk]

Yeah sounds like what I was told by the garage today. It's going to be around £450+VAT for a refurb and they change all the bearings etc. inside it. Still means I have to wait ages to get her back though

 

[CSR dog]

hey TOUK

I got told by the gearbox centre that the oil recommended for these boxes isn't up to the job when the box gets hot, which results in the bearings not being lubricated sufficiently, resulting in excess wear.

Having the bearings sorted will solve the issue, mine is as quiet as a mouse now, and runs much smoother in general.

I have also heard on other forums that the recommended oil is like water at high temp i wonder what the better oil would be for it.

 

[CSR dog]

hey TOUK

I got told by the gearbox centre that the oil recommended for these boxes isn't up to the job when the box gets hot, which results in the bearings not being lubricated sufficiently, resulting in excess wear.

Having the bearings sorted will solve the issue, mine is as quiet as a mouse now, and runs much smoother in general.

I have also heard on other forums that the recommended oil is like water at high temp i wonder what the better oil would be for it.

 

[SteveTjet]

Yeah sounds like what I was told by the garage today. It's going to be around £450+VAT for a refurb and they change all the bearings etc. inside it. Still means I have to wait ages to get her back though

Yeah that price sounds about right im afraid. Mine got done in a morning. Gearbox stayed in the car. Oil wise. Im not sure what they used. Im sure a quick search on the vauxhall forums will shed light on it

 

[CSR dog]

Yeah that price sounds about right im afraid. Mine got done in a morning. Gearbox stayed in the car. Oil wise. Im not sure what they used. Im sure a quick search on the vauxhall forums will shed light on it

I went on the VXR forum and they are in the same sort of predicament, is it sub standard parts, a badly designed gearbox or an oil issue. Every car forum i go on the M32 is there but no one really has any specific answers. One did say that he used thicker oil but then couldn't select first gear until it had warmed up. I think its just a lottery with these gearboxes tbh.

 

[Rickyklu]

Hi mate

I had the same issue recently on my AGP. it turned out to be the bearings in the gearbox.

Mine whirred in 5th and 6th, you could here it more are 60mph ish. also in 1st when you engaged it then accelerated the lever jumped.

I got mine sorted at the weekend, new bearings in 6th 5th ans 1st. all is good again.

Hi there Steve,

I Have exactly the same problem as you did, can you give me an estimate about the costs of your repair,.

thx

Rick

 

[SteveTjet]

Hi mate

Mine cost 450 all in. that was at Halifax clutch and gearbox center. only took half a day and feels so much better now, and the mpg has sneaked up, probably not down to the gearbox.

 

[Rickyklu]

Hi mate



Mine cost 450 all in. that was at Halifax clutch and gearbox center. only took half a day and feels so much better now, and the mpg has sneaked up, probably not down to the gearbox.

Half a day! Thats done pretty fast! Every where I went to ask how long it would take and how much it would cost,. They say 1.5 days and the costs wil be €1500,- minimum,. (I'm dutch) I guess that would be around £800,-

But thats because they have to open the gearbox to see whats wrong!

Thx for the info,..

 

[Touk]

Hi guys,

Just a quick update to let you know that a considerable sum lighter, and it's sorted. The gearbox was refurbed and seems to be working OK now. When fixing it, new issues were uncovered and I've also ended with a new flywheel (i saw the old one and it was basically a rusty mess) and all the wiring had been bodged by someone before and was kicking up all the error lights I was getting. It's done through a family friend (kind of) so won't be as crazy expensive as it might usually have been, but still won't be cheap.

However....

The turbo gauge still doesn't fill up properly. I can have it in 6th gear at 4k rpm and it's still only 2 or 3 bars filled. My mechanic thinks it's possibly the filter (apparently when he first looked at it, it had a 'paper' filter, whereas everywhere online shows what looks like a red metal one? forgive my ignorance), that, or, the turbo itself is fubar. Has anyone had this issue before and/or have any suggestions?

 

[SteveTjet]

Hi mate the red filter is a bmc panel filter, its cotton gauze and is part of the AGP esseesse upgrade kit, but it does fit the standard AGP, as its the same airbox. Ive had all sorts of filters on mine, panels, cones but just stick with the paper one as it is the best for the job, and simply replace it more often.

As for the turbo, does it feel down on power? i doubt the filter would be causing the boost to dip, have a quick check of all your hoses from in take all the way through to intercooler, make sure they're not split.

good luck

 

[Touk]

Yeah it just doesn't pull like it should - at least not like when I first got it. And the gauge on the dash barely fills up even in high revs - again, it used to fill up and you could feel the turbo.

I'll have a look and see what I can find. I'm pretty clueless though to be honest, so I'll see what the garage says again. Shame I'm putting so much money into it when I'll be putting it up for sale soon! Ha.\

Thanks